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In Search of Safety: Voices of Refugees
Five refugees who’ve settled in Nebraska tell the stories of their lives before coming here, and of their journeys to and lives in the United States. Fraidoon, from Afghanistan, worked for years as a translator for the United States military and private contractors and ended up with a fatwa on his head. Nathan, a member of the Karen ethnic group in Myanmar, was born in a refugee camp in Thailand because of persecution of Karen people in their homeland. Nyarout grew up in South Sudan, in the midst of civil war. Recent arrival Shireen is Yazidi from Iraq; she was captured and tortured by ISIS. Diudonné, from Burundi, is mixed Hutu and Tutsi; he escaped to a refugee camp during the massacre of Tutsis by Hutus. Once here, each has faced new challenges, and their ability to cope and thrive is influenced by many things, from cultural considerations to past experiences to ongoing support. Some, like Nathan, who came when still a child, feel at home here. Some, like recent arrival Shireen, struggle with the immense trauma they’ve experienced. Some, like Diudonné, have found and created lasting community. These five individuals have very different stories but collectively they illuminate some of the dangers, violence, and other traumas from which refugees are fleeing when they seek asylum in our country. ©2021 Cooperative Children’s Book Center
Illustrated by Susan Kuklin
CCBC Age Recommendation: Age 12 and older
Age Range:
Grades 6-8 (Ages 11-13)
Grades 9-12 (Age 14 and older)
Format:
Substantial Narrative Non-Fiction
Subjects:
21st Century
Immigration and Immigrants
Refugees
Trauma
Violence
War
World History
Diversity subjects:
Asian
Black/African
Multicultural General
Muslim
Other Religion
Publisher:
Candlewick
Publish Year: 2020
Pages: 246
ISBN: 9780763679606
CCBC Location: Non-Fiction, 325 Kuklin