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readwithpassion's review against another edition
4.0
A fifteen-year-old orphan, Abdul is struggling to survive in war-torn Iraq. He fights his way onto a smuggler's boat and is joined by two teens with similar backgrounds, Cheslav, a strong-willed, quick-tempered boy from Russia, and Rosalia, a Romanian gypsy who is strong, but mistrustful of the others.
NO SAFE PLACE gives teens a glimpse of the suffering of their peers from other countries. This novel sheds light on the unfortunate circumstances of three children from very different backgrounds, allowing the reader to understand and question the unfairness of the iniquities that exist around the world.
NO SAFE PLACE gives teens a glimpse of the suffering of their peers from other countries. This novel sheds light on the unfortunate circumstances of three children from very different backgrounds, allowing the reader to understand and question the unfairness of the iniquities that exist around the world.
jeev1017's review against another edition
3.0
4 teens, different stories, one destination!! No Safe place is 4 teens who come from different places and past experiences. All of them try to escape their past by traveling to England, hoping to find a better future and leaving the past behind them. The author really brought out a bitter message in his writing, but the support and story of this book was extremely eye-opening. Thank you Deborah Ellis.
lauriehnatiuk's review against another edition
4.0
Loved this book and the different perspectives given and the way Ellis presents the story. I image this may be a strong contender for Snow Willows 2011
erindb's review against another edition
4.0
No Safe Place is an important book. Ellis offers a glimpse into a world that we as a society are otherwise oblivious to. This book places a name and a face to the countless middle-eastern children whose lives the war destroyed, these people who are all but hopeless.
Enter Abdul, a fifteen year old with just a dream and a gold medallion. His story, as are those of the other children he befriends on his way to England, is riveting and horrifyingly real. Ellis' depiction of life in Calais provides a brutally true-to-life description of the difficulties illegal migrants struggle with today. I appreciated how shockingly honest the first part of the book was, but I was a bit disappointed with the ending. I questioned the likelihood that three teenagers and a small child could so easily outsmart two grown men, thus stealing and eventually sinking their yacht, but I let it go.
This isn't what spoiled the book for me, though. To be completely honest, the ending sucked. It was like a magical fairy-tale ending, very uncharacteristic of the rest of Ellis' work. Although the ending was disappointing, I still enjoyed the book a lot. It's a great read, and I believe that this book is very important and eye-opening. No Safe Place is vital in today's world, and it calls attention to the people who need it most.
Enter Abdul, a fifteen year old with just a dream and a gold medallion. His story, as are those of the other children he befriends on his way to England, is riveting and horrifyingly real. Ellis' depiction of life in Calais provides a brutally true-to-life description of the difficulties illegal migrants struggle with today. I appreciated how shockingly honest the first part of the book was, but I was a bit disappointed with the ending. I questioned the likelihood that three teenagers and a small child could so easily outsmart two grown men, thus stealing and eventually sinking their yacht, but I let it go.
This isn't what spoiled the book for me, though. To be completely honest, the ending sucked. It was like a magical fairy-tale ending, very uncharacteristic of the rest of Ellis' work. Although the ending was disappointing, I still enjoyed the book a lot. It's a great read, and I believe that this book is very important and eye-opening. No Safe Place is vital in today's world, and it calls attention to the people who need it most.
ruzz's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
autumnchrunik's review against another edition
5.0
4.5/5 stars!
My only issue with this book was at the end when we find out Abdul's whole story. I felt the part about his friend (and himself I'm assuming) being gay was just thrown in there because it wasn't really alluded to at all throughout the book. I found that annoying since it was just dropped in there. Other than that great story!
My only issue with this book was at the end when we find out Abdul's whole story. I felt the part about his friend (and himself I'm assuming) being gay was just thrown in there because it wasn't really alluded to at all throughout the book. I found that annoying since it was just dropped in there. Other than that great story!
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