Mohammed's Journey
A Refugee Diary
Published on 19. February 2009
Book
Hardback
32 pages
978-1-84507-653-5 (ISBN)
Description
Mohammed was born in Kirkuk - the Kurdish part of Iraq. He speaks Kurdish, and now English too. Saddam Hussein persecuted Mohammed's people long before he was born but Mohammed's journey started in October 2000 when Saddam's soldiers came to his house, beat him and his mother and took his father away. Mohammed never saw his father again. This is his story. From that terrible night, to the escape from Iraq by bus, on horseback, in a small boat on a raging river and finally, hiding in a lorry on a ship. It covers his journey from Kirkuk to the Iraq-Iran border, through Iran, into Turkey and then on to England and safety. Mohammed and his mother we were granted 'leave to stay' in England in 2002. Other titles in the series: Gervelie's Journey, Hamzat's Journey To read a speech from the authors given at the booklaunch, click here
Reviews / Votes
With photos and realistic illustrations, this is a tribute to the resilience of people who fight against all odds for a better life. Irish Examiner A harrowing tale which should make readers proud of the welcome our country extends to people desperately in need of safety and freedom. Northern Echo June Allan's poignant illustrations are supplemented by photographs and there's a spread about the recent history of Iraq. This thought-provoking story would make a useful teaching aid. Glasgow Herald The concept is excellent and it is important for children to understand what life as a refugee would be like. School Librarian The full import of this [situation] can hardly be conveyed in a book that is intended for a pre-teen audience, although it is good to see it attempted. The matter-of-fact text and the restrained illustrations resist the exploitation of suffering and indignity and offer enough support to the text to provoke the reader's empathetic imagination. Colour photographs mounted as if in a scrapbook of snap shots, remind us that this is happened not so long ago and is still happening to children who sit in British classrooms. Books for Keeps Children living in more politically stable countries can learn a lot from these books and appreciate better what it means to be free. The clever combination of photographs and watercolour illustrations, plus the useful glossary of facts, provide a wealth of authentic detail. Carousel This book is a 'must' for KS2 and early teenage readers, to help them understand that behind the word 'refugee' there is a suffering person who wants to be safe and free. For children who have suffered similarly, it provides a shared experience with which they can readily identify. English 4-11More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Quarto Publishing PLC
Target group
Children/juvenile
Dimensions
Height: 280 mm
Width: 214 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-84507-653-5 (9781845076535)
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Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Anthony Robinson writes children's books and teaches. He has lived and travelled all over the world, from his original home in Australia to Asia, Southeast Asia and Europe, from Japan to Edinburgh, and now lives in Cambridge. He is keen to give a voice to the voiceless, be they refugees who have fled their own countries, children living normal lives in vastly different cultures, or children living in difficult circumstances. June Allan was born in Edinburgh and can't remember a time when she didn't love drawing: in her pram, in lessons at school, in Art College, in teacher training college! She has illustrated many children's books. She still lives in Edinburgh with her husband, two children, three guinea pigs and lots of goldfish. To visit June Allan's website click here Annemarie Young writes books for children and works with educational publishers. She has lived and travelled all over the world, from her original home in Australia to Southeast Asia and Europe, from Egypt to Edinburgh, and now lives in Cambridge. She has worked with over 100 children's authors and illustrators from all corners of the globe. She loves the whole process of publishing, and still finds it exciting to open the first copy of one of the books she has written or worked on.