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A review by poppyjessica
The Crossing by Manjeet Mann
5.0
What an incredibly powerful novel-in-verse from Manjeet Mann - 'The Crossing' is a dual narrative, following Nat in the UK and Sammy on his journey escaping Eritrea for the 'promised land' of Europe. Both teenagers have been broken by their experiences, Nat by the recent death of her mother and her family falling deeper into poverty and Sammy by the corruption and forced military service in his home country of Eritrea.
Fearing forced labour and death, Sammy and his friend Tesfay start the perilous journey across dangerous territory, two seas and the Sahara desert to reach the UK. Their horrific experiences, characterised by extreme violence, racism and loss, are portrayed in parallel to Nat's journey of discovery of the reality of life for refugees in the UK. As her brother falls in with right wing extremists, acting violently on their ideology, Mann shines a light on the broken system and deeply concerning views held by some which render life unliveable by those seeking to escape from war and poverty.
Mann writes skilfully, connecting the narratives and keeping the pace of the characters' journeys rapid. There are several moments which chilled my core - this woven tapestry of images blending Nat and Sammy's stories is affecting and poignant. This will prove to be a vital read for teenagers and adults alike in search of a safer, more tolerant world. 5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher who provided an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Fearing forced labour and death, Sammy and his friend Tesfay start the perilous journey across dangerous territory, two seas and the Sahara desert to reach the UK. Their horrific experiences, characterised by extreme violence, racism and loss, are portrayed in parallel to Nat's journey of discovery of the reality of life for refugees in the UK. As her brother falls in with right wing extremists, acting violently on their ideology, Mann shines a light on the broken system and deeply concerning views held by some which render life unliveable by those seeking to escape from war and poverty.
Mann writes skilfully, connecting the narratives and keeping the pace of the characters' journeys rapid. There are several moments which chilled my core - this woven tapestry of images blending Nat and Sammy's stories is affecting and poignant. This will prove to be a vital read for teenagers and adults alike in search of a safer, more tolerant world. 5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher who provided an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.