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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
Received an ARC in exchange for an honest review from the publisher via NetGalley
Subhi is a boy born in a refugee centre, and all the life he has known has been within the fence of the Centre. It's boring as can be in this place, and it's Subhi's vivid imagination that helps him bear it all. Jimmie is a young girl from the Outside who needs someone to read her dead mother's stories to her, and it's Subhi who offers to do it. The story focuses on their slowly developing friendship and the conflicts that come along with it.
The author has managed to capture the voice of a nine year old highly imaginative boy very well. However that right there can be a problem when it comes to younger readers. Considering that this book is targeted at middle grade readers, I'm somewhat concerned about the voice of this book. It's not easy being Subhi, and it's not easy being in his thoughts either. So at points I had to struggle to make myself read on because that, coupled with the rich, literary writing made it quite difficult to understand what was being said. Of course, the writing was beautiful and enchanting, but it's the MG tag that comes along with it that I'm not too sure of.
A very brave story that confronts political, ethical and moral issues relating to refugees,
dark
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is such a sad story. And what is even sadder is that real things like this are happening to people right now in many places in the world. Subhi was born in an Australian refugee center where people who have fled from atrocities in their home countries are treated like prisoners. While his story is fiction, the conditions in the Australian refugee detention center are horrible and the country has made it illegal for people to report about what goes on in them. Refugees are treated horribly there and in other places in the world, with many countries, including the US, either holding them in prisons or detention centers or refusing to allow them into the country so they die in boats at sea. The book is suitable for grades 5 and up. I think that it is an important issue and this book helps bring it to light.
School book club book decent story good message and awarness
What an incredibly moving book this is. It tells the story of Subhi, a Rohingya refugee born in a refugee camp in Australia. It tells his story of life in the camp, of friendship, of family and of the Outside. It tells the story of the daily struggle and oppression he faces and of how he tries to cope. It's quite brutal in the same way as Once by Morris Gleitzman is and yet subtle in the way the horrors are dealt with, similar to The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas and yet it is not a copy of either of these two. Be prepared to answer some tough questions from your readers or yourself once you've finished this gem of a book.
"We're the dead rats, Harvey. Just like Queeny said. Left out to rot so no one else bothers to try. There's no keeping safe for us."
Subhi was born in an Australian detention centre and has never been outside of the fences keeping the asylum seekers in. Subhi writes in a lyrical manner but there is no sugar coating the disgusting way the guards treat the asylum seekers, and the other indignities the people face. Subhi's mum and sister Queeny came from Burma, they are Rohingya and are fleeing the ethnic cleansing facing their people there.
This is aimed at middle readers. The content is tough and confronting but this is the reality for so many people, including young children, being punished by the Australian government for seeking safety and protection. There are many moments I found myself not wanting to be true, but they are. the horrors are real and based on real reports. There are other moments of imagination, but none obscure what is really going on. A girl from the outside makes her way into the camp and becomes friends with Subhi. While this may appear a bit far fetched it adds a layer to the story as Jimmie has heavy emotions she is dealing with too.
Highly recommended.
Subhi was born in an Australian detention centre and has never been outside of the fences keeping the asylum seekers in. Subhi writes in a lyrical manner but there is no sugar coating the disgusting way the guards treat the asylum seekers, and the other indignities the people face. Subhi's mum and sister Queeny came from Burma, they are Rohingya and are fleeing the ethnic cleansing facing their people there.
This is aimed at middle readers. The content is tough and confronting but this is the reality for so many people, including young children, being punished by the Australian government for seeking safety and protection. There are many moments I found myself not wanting to be true, but they are. the horrors are real and based on real reports. There are other moments of imagination, but none obscure what is really going on. A girl from the outside makes her way into the camp and becomes friends with Subhi. While this may appear a bit far fetched it adds a layer to the story as Jimmie has heavy emotions she is dealing with too.
Highly recommended.
Middle grade is a great way to read about difficult subjects without it being overwhelming. This book deals a 9 year old boy born in a refugee detention centre, a horrible situation that he can't fully comprehend. It reminded me of the lack of judgement of children and was truly an uplifting story.
