“I just want to live without fear.” — Bana Alabed, Twitter, October 12, 2016
When seven-year-old Bana Alabed took to Twitter to describe the horrors she and her family were experiencing in war-torn Syria, her heartrending messages touched the world and gave a voice to millions of innocent children.
Written in Bana’s own words, this picture book offers a uniquely intimate child’s perspective on one of the biggest humanitarian crises in history. Bana has lost her best friend, her school, her home, and her homeland. But she has not lost her hope — for herself and for other children around the world who are victims and refugees of war and deserve better lives. This poignant picture book memoir will help children put a human face on the stories of refugees they hear... and help them understand why we need to do everything we can to help those affected by war.
"Beautiful, child-friendly art illustrates the concepts graphically, with a nuanced focus on protagonists’ faces and emotions. Bana recalls times when she was strong, like when she persevered despite being scared by bombs falling from the sky, when she comforted her scared little brothers and improvised a playground in the living room to distract them, and when she learned new things and made new friends in a new country.... Importantly, the narrative depicts pride in speaking a heritage language, here Arabic, in a new foreign country." — Kirkus Reviews
Recommended Age | 4 - 8 |
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Author | Bana Alabed |
Illustrator | Nez Riaz |
ISBN | 1534412484 |
Publication Date | Sep 21, 2021 |
Publisher | Salaam Reads / Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers |
Language | English |