59 pages • 1 hour read •
Butterfly Yellow
A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Book Brief
320
Novel • Fiction
•
Asian Literature•
Realistic Fiction•
Asian LiteratureTexas • 1980s
•
Military & War•
World History2019
HarperCollins
YA
13-17 years
HL810L
Super Short Summary
In Butterfly Yellow by Thanhhà Lai, 18-year-old Hằng travels from Vietnam to Texas in search of her brother, Linh, who was taken away during Operation Babylift. With the help of LeeRoy, an aspiring cowboy, Hằng navigates numerous challenges while exploring themes of language, communication, and the gap between dreams and reality. The book contains mentions and descriptions of violence, sexual assault, and trauma.
Contemplative
Emotional
Bittersweet
Hopeful
Melancholic
Reviews & Readership
3,500 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Butterfly Yellow by Thanhha Lai receives praise for its evocative writing and compelling portrayal of a young refugee's journey. Readers appreciate the emotional depth and cultural insights. However, some feel the multiple perspectives disrupt the narrative flow. Despite this, the novel is lauded for its authenticity and powerful storytelling.
Who Should Read Butterfly Yellow?
Readers who enjoy Butterfly Yellow by Thanhha Lai are typically fond of historical fiction, coming-of-age stories, and tales of immigration. Fans of Inside Out & Back Again by Lai herself or Refugee by Alan Gratz would appreciate this book's heartfelt exploration of resilience and identity. Ideal for middle-grade to young adult audiences.
3,500 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
LeeRoy
LeeRoy
An 18-year-old aspiring cowboy from Austin, Texas, who befriends Hằng and helps her on her journey, displaying kindness and a willingness to adapt his dreams.
Linh/David
Linh/David
Hằng's younger brother, mistakenly brought to the U.S. as an orphan, now settled into his new life as David with no memory of his past in Vietnam.
Bà
Bà
Hằng’s and Linh’s grandmother, remembered for her wisdom and strength, whose guidance continues to help Hằng navigate her challenges.
Chú Quốc
Chú Quốc
Hằng and Linh's uncle, a doctor in Texas, with strong opinions about their futures, driven by a sense of familial responsibility.
Cora
Cora
David’s adoptive mother, protective and nurturing, who initially distrusts newcomers but opens her heart once trust is established.
Mr. Morgan
Mr. Morgan
The owner of a neighboring ranch, known for his firm management style, who offers support to those around him and quietly aids in Hằng and LeeRoy's journeys.
Butterfly Yellow is Thanhha Lai’s first young adult novel, expanding her range from her previous works for younger audiences.
The novel has been praised for its evocative depiction of the Vietnamese immigrant experience in Texas during the post-Vietnam War era.
Subscribe to discover more Fun Facts!
Thanhha Lai incorporates her own experiences as a Vietnamese immigrant in the U.S. into the novel, giving it an authentic voice and perspective.
Subscribe to discover more Fun Facts!
320
Novel • Fiction
•
Asian Literature•
Realistic Fiction•
Asian LiteratureTexas • 1980s
•
Military & War•
World History2019
HarperCollins
YA
13-17 years
HL810L
Continue your reading experience
Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 9,300+ additional titles.