Scan barcode
A review by caitfoges
The Unwanted: Stories of the Syrian Refugees by Don Brown
4.0
Though I work for a refugee resettlement agency here in the US, I hadn't previously been exposed to much information regarding the refugee crisis across Europe. This short book corrected that by providing a remarkably thorough depiction of various attitudes and hardships faced by Syrian refugees. Furthermore, it was both enlightening and horrifying to learn more about the experiences of these families while still back in Syria, and what pushed them to make the difficult decision to flee. Also, I appreciated the inclusion of what seemed to be real quotes from refugees themselves, as well as allusions to actual news/events. Really, the amount of details and nuances portrayed in this relatively short graphic novel is impressive.
I do have a couple of reservations, however. For one, I am not a big fan of the title. I get that a main theme of the book is the barriers Syrians faces on their journeys, and that many of their experiences feel devoid of hope. Though I wish something a bit more honoring of these people's humanity could have been chosen. Lastly, I think the audience needs to be clarified. At first, considering the genre, I figured this would be a good fit for the high school students I work with, most of whom are refugees. Now I see that it would likely be triggering for them, and that this work is really more well-suited for adults and mature teens looking to learn more about oppression in this world.
I do have a couple of reservations, however. For one, I am not a big fan of the title. I get that a main theme of the book is the barriers Syrians faces on their journeys, and that many of their experiences feel devoid of hope. Though I wish something a bit more honoring of these people's humanity could have been chosen. Lastly, I think the audience needs to be clarified. At first, considering the genre, I figured this would be a good fit for the high school students I work with, most of whom are refugees. Now I see that it would likely be triggering for them, and that this work is really more well-suited for adults and mature teens looking to learn more about oppression in this world.