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goodem9199's review
5.0
As I was reading this book and the horror stories of Syrian refugees, the tv news report was talking about football player Le’Veon Bell and his unhappiness with being offered a salary of $17 million per year. This world is so screwed up. Shameful to the point of nausea.
vonhippo's review
emotional
sad
medium-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence, Violence, Xenophobia, and War
24marsha's review
4.0
Another book that helps educate on the refugee crisis for the people of Syria and what it would be like to lose your home, community, culture, language, religion, and everything you hold dear - just for the hope of peace - but more often came rejection and fear.
jwinchell's review
5.0
Distilling elements of Syrian refugees’ stories- obtained through impressive research- Don Brown paints a vivid picture of the war in Syria from refugees’ points of view. He layers in history and comparative statistics. I had not understood the scope of this refugee crisis and the nativism that was stirred up across Europe. And the situation continues to be dire: “There are about 5.7 million registered Syrian refugees. In the first three months of 2018, the United States has accepted eleven for resettlement.”
mbrandmaier's review
4.0
Describes the plight of Syrian refugees desperate to escape violence in their country.
aoosterwyk's review
5.0
This was a clear, simple explanation for the Syrian Refugee situation, beginning with the Arab Spring through the start of 2018.
Documents the refugee experience regarding travel, accommodations, transportation, and food. Shows how different countries treat refugees, including our own pathetic showing. Out of 5.7 million, the US had accepted 11 at publication. Shameful!!!
Documents the refugee experience regarding travel, accommodations, transportation, and food. Shows how different countries treat refugees, including our own pathetic showing. Out of 5.7 million, the US had accepted 11 at publication. Shameful!!!
caitfoges's review
4.0
Though I work for a refugee resettlement agency here in the US, I hadn't previously been exposed to much information regarding the refugee crisis across Europe. This short book corrected that by providing a remarkably thorough depiction of various attitudes and hardships faced by Syrian refugees. Furthermore, it was both enlightening and horrifying to learn more about the experiences of these families while still back in Syria, and what pushed them to make the difficult decision to flee. Also, I appreciated the inclusion of what seemed to be real quotes from refugees themselves, as well as allusions to actual news/events. Really, the amount of details and nuances portrayed in this relatively short graphic novel is impressive.
I do have a couple of reservations, however. For one, I am not a big fan of the title. I get that a main theme of the book is the barriers Syrians faces on their journeys, and that many of their experiences feel devoid of hope. Though I wish something a bit more honoring of these people's humanity could have been chosen. Lastly, I think the audience needs to be clarified. At first, considering the genre, I figured this would be a good fit for the high school students I work with, most of whom are refugees. Now I see that it would likely be triggering for them, and that this work is really more well-suited for adults and mature teens looking to learn more about oppression in this world.
I do have a couple of reservations, however. For one, I am not a big fan of the title. I get that a main theme of the book is the barriers Syrians faces on their journeys, and that many of their experiences feel devoid of hope. Though I wish something a bit more honoring of these people's humanity could have been chosen. Lastly, I think the audience needs to be clarified. At first, considering the genre, I figured this would be a good fit for the high school students I work with, most of whom are refugees. Now I see that it would likely be triggering for them, and that this work is really more well-suited for adults and mature teens looking to learn more about oppression in this world.
paperbacksandpines's review
4.0
This book was a heartbreaking take on the Syrian refugee crisis. Aimed at young adult readers, the subject matter lays out the events leading up to the refugee crisis in a clear and straightforward manner so that anyone without background knowledge won't be left in the dark. The book reads as a collection of anecdotes from a host of different people.
The anecdotes form a cohesive narrative. I was left with important questions such as what responsibility does humankind have for victims of political oppression and what point do countries stop accepting refugees. The countries surrounding Syria have undergone extreme financial hardships after allowing large amounts of refugees to enter their country. Refugees encounter prejudice, religious persecution, and xenophobia. Unlike similar subject matter books I've read, the author was careful not to lay any blame from the persecution at the feet of any specific religious groups.
Unfortunately, the countries surrounding Syria that have shouldered the majority of the refugees have only undertaken a small percentage of the Syrians in crisis. The U.S. only took in 6 Syrian refugees in one year! In many other refugee crises in the past, the government took in numbers of people in vastly larger quantities. I was deeply saddened, but not surprised, to read that the world has essentially turned their backs on these people in crisis.
The anecdotes form a cohesive narrative. I was left with important questions such as what responsibility does humankind have for victims of political oppression and what point do countries stop accepting refugees. The countries surrounding Syria have undergone extreme financial hardships after allowing large amounts of refugees to enter their country. Refugees encounter prejudice, religious persecution, and xenophobia. Unlike similar subject matter books I've read, the author was careful not to lay any blame from the persecution at the feet of any specific religious groups.
Unfortunately, the countries surrounding Syria that have shouldered the majority of the refugees have only undertaken a small percentage of the Syrians in crisis. The U.S. only took in 6 Syrian refugees in one year! In many other refugee crises in the past, the government took in numbers of people in vastly larger quantities. I was deeply saddened, but not surprised, to read that the world has essentially turned their backs on these people in crisis.
maryehavens's review
4.0
Told with so much compassion for the plight of these refugees. It’s easy (for me, anyway) to forget this chapter in history considering our current pandemic situation. Has this situation gotten any better?
Definitely a book to read to remind us of the horrors of war and the gratitude we should hold each day in our lives.
Definitely a book to read to remind us of the horrors of war and the gratitude we should hold each day in our lives.