worldlibraries's review against another edition
5.0
This book takes a half hour to read. In half an hour, Escape From Syria takes you into the intensity of the revolution and refugee experience. Some families in Syria were just trying to pursue normal life, living lives rich in intellectual pursuit, surrounded by extended family, sometimes even in the same multi-floor apartment building before revolution broke out.
But because Syria had no freedom and no democracy, when the Arab Spring began in Arab lands, revolution naturally started to foment in Syria. It was dealt with mercilessly by the regime in power. No reforms were allowed. Citizens serving in the Syrian Army were ordered to kill their own people and did so.
Amina, a top female student, sees her life fall apart. Her family decides they must leave and they go to Lebanon. The author consistently shows the young reader just how hard it is to survive as a refugee. One way the author does this is by showing a monthly budget for refugee life and how income doesn't match expenses. Another way the author does this is by showing the anguish of a refugee family that needs medicine that will instantly heal their son, but what are they to do when they have no money to pay for that medicine? Another way the author did this was to show how young daughters, often as young as 13, were married off by their families in the camp because they had no possible way of protecting them. Another way the author shows the refugee experience is Amina's reaction to walking by windows of families living normal lives, just like she used to have, as if nothing has happened.
This book helps children see the real deep impact for families around the world whose governments would rather retain power among a ruling elite than allow for more freedom and democracy. The author, a working journalist who reported on the refugee and migration crisis for years, backs up every situation described in her book with citations in the back. I say thank you to author Samya Kullab, for giving voice to the powerless. Thanks also to the rest of the publishing team that brought this book to the public.
But because Syria had no freedom and no democracy, when the Arab Spring began in Arab lands, revolution naturally started to foment in Syria. It was dealt with mercilessly by the regime in power. No reforms were allowed. Citizens serving in the Syrian Army were ordered to kill their own people and did so.
Amina, a top female student, sees her life fall apart. Her family decides they must leave and they go to Lebanon. The author consistently shows the young reader just how hard it is to survive as a refugee. One way the author does this is by showing a monthly budget for refugee life and how income doesn't match expenses. Another way the author does this is by showing the anguish of a refugee family that needs medicine that will instantly heal their son, but what are they to do when they have no money to pay for that medicine? Another way the author did this was to show how young daughters, often as young as 13, were married off by their families in the camp because they had no possible way of protecting them. Another way the author shows the refugee experience is Amina's reaction to walking by windows of families living normal lives, just like she used to have, as if nothing has happened.
This book helps children see the real deep impact for families around the world whose governments would rather retain power among a ruling elite than allow for more freedom and democracy. The author, a working journalist who reported on the refugee and migration crisis for years, backs up every situation described in her book with citations in the back. I say thank you to author Samya Kullab, for giving voice to the powerless. Thanks also to the rest of the publishing team that brought this book to the public.
emeraldreverie's review against another edition
3.0
Straightforward and clear illustration of a time of tumult and chaos.
sunflowerjess's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
fast-paced
5.0
Although the family in this story is a fictional one, each member of the family and their experiences are based on very real people the author interviewed for this book. Everything that happens in this graphic novel did happen to someone. This book is terrifying and necessary.
mjfmjfmjf's review against another edition
4.0
A random pickup from the display shelf of my local library. Fast read, fictionalized account following one Syrian refugee family. This is targeted at young adults and it seems to thread the path between not too scarily realistic and quite upsetting. With decent enough art and writing. I certainly feel like I have a better feel of what went on.
iffer's review against another edition
4.0
I thought that this was very, very well done. This is short, but it manages to summarize the conflict in Syria succinctly. More importantly, it puts human faces on the Syrian conflict and refugee crisis, activating readers' empathy rather than providing merely splashy disaster porn news.
thebookguru's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars
Heartbreaking book that highlights the horrors of the war in Syria, the toll on refugees, what it means to be a refugee perpetually in limbo and having to depend on the humanity of others. Parents having their daughters get married so they can be safe is heartbreaking and the trauma that comes with being a refugee and losing your homeland and identity and sense of self. Then having to deal with racism and islamophobia (yes you get Christian Syrians too but they wouldn’t suffer as a result from their beliefs in a Western country).
This book is necessary and accessible so kids 10 + can understand what is going on. Also highly recommend Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga.
There are still plenty of refugees who don’t get to go abroad and have an opportunity to have a better life.
Heartbreaking book that highlights the horrors of the war in Syria, the toll on refugees, what it means to be a refugee perpetually in limbo and having to depend on the humanity of others. Parents having their daughters get married so they can be safe is heartbreaking and the trauma that comes with being a refugee and losing your homeland and identity and sense of self. Then having to deal with racism and islamophobia (yes you get Christian Syrians too but they wouldn’t suffer as a result from their beliefs in a Western country).
This book is necessary and accessible so kids 10 + can understand what is going on. Also highly recommend Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga.
There are still plenty of refugees who don’t get to go abroad and have an opportunity to have a better life.
parva_trinity's review against another edition
4.0
This book was a great personal story about the realities of Syrian refugees in a time of war. I really enjoyed this because I had typically seen and heard stories online about the realities of war, but seeing it from the perspective of a girl in a family, similar to mine was quite shocking to me. Seeing the family give up so much, even something as vital as education was quite heart-breaking to me. Although I didn't cry, I think this book is definitely an emotional read and worth reading if you would like to gain more insight into the nuances of war.
poenaestante's review against another edition
4.0
Man do humans suck. Just the worst species.
This is a simple and effective introduction to the Syrian refugee crisis and has great explainer text at the end expounding on themes mentioned in the story. The art and the story was just OK.
This is a simple and effective introduction to the Syrian refugee crisis and has great explainer text at the end expounding on themes mentioned in the story. The art and the story was just OK.
zepysgirl's review against another edition
3.0
I had a little trouble following the timeline in the beginning as it jumped back and forth.
crizzle's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars. Short graphic book that packs a lot. I would recommend this for 4th or 5th graders on up; it gives to-the-point information on the violence and trouble in Syria and the refugee crisis. I wouldn’t really recommend younger than 10 years old as it’s heavy, especially with the ISIS stuff. There is a lot more information in the back pages after the story ends; my 11 year old and I learned a lot.