Why did the author choose to tell Hà's story through free verse instead of writing in prose?

As the novel is targeting at young people, Lai uses free verse, which focuses on important events, settings, and situations. Unnecessary details are omitted. Thus, the simple, straightforward, free verse style adds a level of realism. Ha is only ten-years-old, and Lai's style reflects her simple, straightforward way of speaking. The free verse format, as opposed to prose, is often more appealing to children, who sometimes struggle with a prose narrative.