  | Refugee's journey from Syria (Leaving my homeland) Author: Mason, Helen | |
| Price: $17.27 | ||
Summary:
Five-year-old Roj's home is bombed during the civil war that has been raging in his homeland of Syria. He and his family are forced to flee the country secretly by boat, and they end up in a camp for refugees in Europe. Interspersed with facts about Syria and its people, this narrative tells a story common to many refugees fleeing the country. The book looks at the efforts being made around the world to assist the millions of refugees. Readers are encouraged to consider how they can help.
Reviews:
School Library Journal (04/01/17)
Booklist (04/01/17)
Full Text Reviews:
Booklist - 04/01/2017 This timely account from the Leaving My Homeland series summarizes some of the issues around the current refugee crisis in a way that is accessible to curious readers. The lengthy expository text may not appeal to the intended audience directly, but it will be helpful for adults looking to answer questions or inform children about the crisis. Some of the book’s highlights include maps, salient vocabulary, and historical and cultural facts about Syria. A refugee’s personal story adds a human, empathetic element and is neatly interwoven with photographs of children, families, resistance marches, refugee tent camps, and burning cities, which offset the other cartoonish images. Urgency builds as the narrative progresses, and readers will learn of the varied global responses to welcoming refugees and of ways to reach out and help. - Copyright 2017 Booklist.
School Library Journal - 04/01/2017 Gr 4–7—First-person stories of refugee experiences are supplemented with comprehensive information about each country's history and the conflicts that have driven people from their homes. Authors objectively describe hardships of war and persecution without sensationalism, and sidebar excerpts from the United Nation's "Rights of the Child" highlight the lack of rights and appalling conditions these children endure. By contrast, the accounts and accompanying photos are somewhat generic, making it hard for readers to connect with the stories. VERDICT A timely but uneven effort that reveals the plight of children affected by the horrors of war; suitable for reports and current events needs. - Copyright 2017 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
