The Unwanted: Stories of the Syrian Refugees by Don Brown

 

    The Unwanted: Stories of the Syrian Refugees by Don Brown is a non-fiction graphic novel published in 2018 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt that would be best suited for high schoolers or advanced, mature middle schoolers. It begins with a brief introduction of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s harsh rule and the backlash it stirs up within the country of Syria between 2011-2017. We slowly see the conflict unfold as each page turns with accompanying imagery for the text showing some of the horrors the Syrians endure as a collective.

(Brown, 2018, p.10)

    Brown takes readers on a journey alongside various Syrians as they flee the country, looking for safe haven from this violence. They hope for a better life and to keep their children safe. The muted illustrations throughout the text reflect the dreary emotions and mood of the refugees. As the text continues on, the narrator focuses on more individual types of refugee experiences between families, brothers, orphans, friends, etc. though it is not told in an “own voice” manner, but as an overall collective of a refugee viewpoint.

(Brown, 2018, p.33)

    Alternating between the author’s voice with statistics and background information to that of various refugees on their difficult journeys, readers get a sense of the turmoil the people in the country are facing and the hazarding types of lives the refugees endure as they try to find safety for themselves and their families. Readers get a glimpse of what it is like in a refugee camp, how other countries react to refugees, religious discrimination, and hints at political opinions from world leaders.

    The Unwanted’s non-specific character viewpoint allows the reader to get an overall sense of the situation in Syria. The inclusion of occasional statistics and maps aids in the understanding of the amount of refugees and their distances traveled.

(Brown, 2018, p.36-37)

    At the back of the book, Brown also includes a summary of his journal, written while visiting a Syrian refugee camp located in Greece during May 2017. These entries include the names of the camps visited, a summary of what was observed, and a few photographs of the camps themselves. An extensive bibliography is also included.

    I would recommend this book to high schoolers looking to get a basic understanding of the conflict in Syria and what the people there are going through. It could be used in the high school classroom to have discussions Syrian refugees specifically or as part of a pairing with other books on the topic of refugees in general or immigration. Critical thinking skills can be applied in thinking about what people should do in these situations, if/how other people can help, and the problems caused by mass migration like this.

Non-fiction read-alikes and/or pairings:

• When Stars are Scattered by Victoria Jamison & Omar Mohamed : Graphic novel based on the true events of Omar Mohamed's childhood as a Somalian refugee. Provides insight into living in a refugee camp as a child, told in narrative format from Omar's perspective. (7th grade+)

• They Called Us Enemy by George Takei : Graphic novel memoir of actor George Takei's experience in the United States Japanese concentration camps during WWII. Told in narrative format from his perspective of what his family endured. (7th grade+)

• This Land Is Our Land: A History of American Immigration by Linda Barrett Osborne : Showcases the history of immigration to the United States with why people immigrate to the country. Each chapter goes into a different period of history and the reactions of current citizens. Quotes, timelines, source notes, and a bibliography is included. (7th grade +)

• Children of War by Deborah Ellis : A collection of stories from real teenagers from around the world that are war refugees. They talk about where they are from, their family, and what happened to them. (9th grade+)

• The Newcomers: Finding Refugee, Friendship, and Hope in an American Classroom by Helen Thorpe : Stories of 21 non-English speaking teenagers that immigrated to the United States and were part of a classroom together in Denver, CO. Shares their backgrounds and experiences. (9th grade+)

• The Girl from Aleppo: Nujeen's Escape from War to Freedom by Nujeen Mustafa : 16-year-old girl born with cerebral palsy's journey as a refugee from war torn Syria to Germany with her sister. (10th grade+)

Fiction read-alikes and/or pairings:

• Illegal by Eoin Colfer : Graphic novel that portrays the fictional journey of a Ghana refugee to Europe. Stunning illustrations move this novel along in this heartbreaking journey. (7th grade+)

• Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga : A novel in verse about a young girl from Syria's experience immigrating to Ohio. (6th grade+)

• Refugee by Alan Gratz : Stories of 3 child refugees (Germany, Cuba, & Syria) and their journeys. (6th grade +)

• Escape from Aleppo by N.H. Senzai : Novel about a 14-year-old girl fleeing war torn Syria. (6th grade+)

• A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park : Told as 2 alternating stories of 11 year olds in Sudan in different time periods, we see how their lives intersect. Based on a true story. (7th grade+)

• Now is the Time for Running by Michael Williams : The story of a young Zimbabwe boy who seeks to flee the violence in his village by traveling to South Africa by way of a soccer opportunity. (7th grade+)

• The Good Braider by Terry Farish : Story of a girl from war torn Sudan's journey to Maine told in free verse. (9th grade+)

• A Land of Permanent Goodbyes by Atia Abawi : A story of teenagers from Syria as they make multiple journeys trying to find safety as refugees. (9th grade+)

More books by Don Brown:

• The Great American Dust Bowl by Don Brown : Graphic novel with the history behind how the landscape formed in the United States to create the land conditions that lead to the dust bowl. Most of the narrative focuses on the 1930s conditions endured and how things have changed over time. (5th grade+)

• Drowned City: Hurricane Katrina & New Orleans by Don Brown : Graphic novel about the events of Hurricane Katrina and the aftermath. (7th grade+)

• Fever Year: The Killer Flu of 1918 by Don Brown : Graphic novel describing the spread of the 1918 Spanish flu. (7th grade+)

  

    If you are a teacher or educator looking for classroom tie ins with this text, try checking out TeachingBook.net’s Cultural Representation Reflection or Nonfiction Read and Respond Multi-Leveled Lesson. Match Fish Tank also has information on pairing the book with Alan Gratz’s Refugee for middle school readers. The following articles could also be used as an introduction to Syrian refugees and/or refugees around the world in general:

• The United Nation Refugee Agency. (2020). Syria Emergency. UNHCR.

• Todd, Z. (2019). By the Numbers: Syrian Refugees Around the World. PBS Frontline.

• Connor, P. (2018). Most displaced Syrians are in the Middle East, and about a million are in Europe. Pew Research Center.

• Connor, P. & Krogstad, J. M. (2016). Key Facts About the World’s Refugees. Pew Research Center.

    The Unwanted is the 2019 YALSA Nonfiction Award Winner and a 2019 Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Honor book. You can find starred reviews for the book at Kirkus, Horn Book, and School Library Journal.

References

Brown, D. (2018). The unwanted: Stories of the Syrian refugees. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.