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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
read with Lola as part of her transition work. bit on the dark side.
And a half if i could. BRILLIANT BOOK, but I don't like Jimmy or whatever her name is, I want to read about Subhi, not Jimmy.
New readers, have a box of tissues near you. This touches many things that happens in this real world and it's tragic.
New readers, have a box of tissues near you. This touches many things that happens in this real world and it's tragic.
Subhi and his mother were so bonded, and the use of first person very much helped the reader to empathise with subhi. As well as this, I found the way the author used alternating chapters to portray the feelings of each character effective.
A thoughtful, heartfelt and timely novel about life as a modern-day refugee, perfect for fans of The Book Thief or The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas. The Bone Sparrow follows Subhi, a refugee boy born in an Australian permanent detention centre. Subhi has only ever known life behind the fences, but everything changes when Jimmie, a girl from the local town, appears outside his tent one night.
The Bone Sparrow is technically a middle grade book, but it’s one of those rare novels that can appeal to adults, teenagers and children alike. Fraillon’s prose is gorgeously lyrical and Subhi’s story of life in a permanent detention centre is deeply moving and obviously thoroughly researched. It’s also harrowing and eye-opening. Despite the current refugee crisis, the plight of Subhi’s people, the Rohingya, is still relatively ignored by the media, and I learned more from Fraillon’s Afterword about the conditions in refugee camps in Australia, the U.K., the U.S., and Europe than I ever have from a major news channel.
While Fraillon doesn’t shy away from the dark, painful truth of her subject matter, Subhi’s narration provides a much-needed spark of hope and happiness. Subhi is a wonderful character, and his childish innocence and imagination is a reminder of the real children living in these conditions. I also liked Jimmie, although I did feel that her story detracted from the main narrative of life in the camp slightly. Subhi’s sister, Queeny, his friend, Eli, and Harvey, a camp guard, were also fantastic characters who left a lasting impression despite their limited page-time.
Orion Books have partnered with Book Aid International to donate a book to a refugee child for every copy of The Bone Sparrow sold. It’s a beautiful, important story, and I definitely recommend buying a copy.
Many thanks to Orion Books for providing a copy of The Bone Sparrow. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Publisher: Orion Books
Rating: 4 stars | ★★★★✰
Review cross-posted to
The Bone Sparrow is technically a middle grade book, but it’s one of those rare novels that can appeal to adults, teenagers and children alike. Fraillon’s prose is gorgeously lyrical and Subhi’s story of life in a permanent detention centre is deeply moving and obviously thoroughly researched. It’s also harrowing and eye-opening. Despite the current refugee crisis, the plight of Subhi’s people, the Rohingya, is still relatively ignored by the media, and I learned more from Fraillon’s Afterword about the conditions in refugee camps in Australia, the U.K., the U.S., and Europe than I ever have from a major news channel.
While Fraillon doesn’t shy away from the dark, painful truth of her subject matter, Subhi’s narration provides a much-needed spark of hope and happiness. Subhi is a wonderful character, and his childish innocence and imagination is a reminder of the real children living in these conditions. I also liked Jimmie, although I did feel that her story detracted from the main narrative of life in the camp slightly. Subhi’s sister, Queeny, his friend, Eli, and Harvey, a camp guard, were also fantastic characters who left a lasting impression despite their limited page-time.
Orion Books have partnered with Book Aid International to donate a book to a refugee child for every copy of The Bone Sparrow sold. It’s a beautiful, important story, and I definitely recommend buying a copy.
Many thanks to Orion Books for providing a copy of The Bone Sparrow. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Publisher: Orion Books
Rating: 4 stars | ★★★★✰
Review cross-posted to
It’s so sad that this book had to be written, what our country is doing to the incredibly brave men, women and children who seek safety here is absolutely disgusting and I am so glad Zana Fraillon chose to depict the refugee camps as they are.
In saying that, this book was incredible. It made me cry on the train today, there was just a real heart in it. The characters were so complicated, and I loved the exploration of found family and of morally grey characters.
I loved the bone sparrow fairytale woven throughout and Subhi’s fantasies grew on me. I don’t think this is really a book that you enjoy reading, but it does get you thinking and feeling very deeply.
In saying that, this book was incredible. It made me cry on the train today, there was just a real heart in it. The characters were so complicated, and I loved the exploration of found family and of morally grey characters.
I loved the bone sparrow fairytale woven throughout and Subhi’s fantasies grew on me. I don’t think this is really a book that you enjoy reading, but it does get you thinking and feeling very deeply.
A book that will speak to adults and children alike, this is a timely reminder of our common humanity and the need to show compassion for others where we can.
Nine year old Subhi is Rohingya, but has only ever known the inside of the detention centre in Australia where he lives. His voice is distinctive, though he remains innocent of the knowledge of what is happening and how so many came to be in this compound with him. He describes - with touching simplicity - the routines of his life and slowly reveals some of the horrors that those he talks to have experienced.
This book has been likened to The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, but I found it interesting that our narrator is the boy who has nothing. I enjoyed the moment when Jimmie, a young girl from outside, meets Subhi and they strike up a friendship. In their own way, each has something to offer the other though their friendship is not something either can share.
As an adult reader I turned the pages with a sense of mounting horror at what I felt was the inevitable climax to the novel. Subhi's innocence means we are never given graphic details-things are explained in such a way that suggest he is making sense of what he sees, and it's up to us to fill in the blanks. Subhi gets to save Jimmie, but he also has to come to terms with his inability to protect his friend Eli.
Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read this prior to publication. It's a book I'll be urging people to read.
Nine year old Subhi is Rohingya, but has only ever known the inside of the detention centre in Australia where he lives. His voice is distinctive, though he remains innocent of the knowledge of what is happening and how so many came to be in this compound with him. He describes - with touching simplicity - the routines of his life and slowly reveals some of the horrors that those he talks to have experienced.
This book has been likened to The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, but I found it interesting that our narrator is the boy who has nothing. I enjoyed the moment when Jimmie, a young girl from outside, meets Subhi and they strike up a friendship. In their own way, each has something to offer the other though their friendship is not something either can share.
As an adult reader I turned the pages with a sense of mounting horror at what I felt was the inevitable climax to the novel. Subhi's innocence means we are never given graphic details-things are explained in such a way that suggest he is making sense of what he sees, and it's up to us to fill in the blanks. Subhi gets to save Jimmie, but he also has to come to terms with his inability to protect his friend Eli.
Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read this prior to publication. It's a book I'll be urging people to read.
More people need to read this book - no, forget that: Everyone needs to read this book. It's funny, heartbreaking and so utterly moving, and I listed more reasons why this book is above extraordinary on my blog. If you need more convincing apart from the stunning cover and its summary, then click here: https://wordpress.com/post/mmelmoth.wordpress.com/1941
YOU KNOW YOU'RE READING A BRILLIANTLY HEARTBREAKING BOOK WHEN YOU'RE SOBBING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. This is such a powerful book that needs to be read by EVERYONE for awareness of what's going on in refugee camps.
A poignant read.
It feels like a unique cross between The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas and Stories in the Dark.
It feels like a unique cross between The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas and Stories in the Dark.