In Search of Safety: Voices of Refugees

In straightforward prose, this latest work by Kuklin (We Are Here to Stay) introduces five people who left all they knew to escape persecution in their home countries: Fraidoon, from Afghanistan; Nathan, born in a Thai refugee camp; Nyarout, from South Sudan; Shireen, from Northern Iraq; and Dieudonné, from Burundi. Each offers clear, often disturbing stories of events leading up to their escapes and established lives in the United States, where arrival presented its own challenges. The firsthand accounts of war, abduction into sex slavery, torture, and loss can be difficult to read, but they make plain the desperate plight of people seeking asylum, making this work an important addition to any collection. Each story is accompanied by explanatory text from the author, along with photographs that acquaint the reader with the refugee and their circumstances. Back matter provides information on the resettling process, agencies mentioned, and a historical timeline for each country. Ages 14–up. [em](Mar.) [/em]