Books to read in National Refugee Week
June 16th to 22nd marks National Refugee Week in Australia, with World Refugee Day on June 20th. This is a time to promote greater social awareness of and support for refugees; a time to highlight the issues they face even after arriving safely in Australia, and the contributions refugees are making to the Australian community.
Below we've curated a range of titles to help provide insight into the refugee experience, with stirring nonfiction, picture books to help explain complex concepts to kids, and incredible young adult fiction that centres the experience of characters that have come to Australia seeking asylum.
Stories from asylum seekers, in their own words
The Lucky Ones by Melinda Ham
A moving and meticulously researched book of refugee stories from award-winning journalist and former foreign correspondent, Melinda Ham.
Though they are from different generations, countries and cultures, the families in this book all share one thing in common: they have escaped persecution in their homelands and sought safety in Australia. Spanning 70 years, and tracking journeys from Iraq, Afghanistan, Poland, Tibet, Vietnam and Zaire, The Lucky Ones offers a window into the complex history of Australian refugee experiences.
No Friend But the Mountains by Behrouz Boochani
In 2013, Kurdish journalist Behrouz Boochani was illegally and indefinitely detained on Manus Island.
This book is the result. Written on a smuggled mobile phone and translated from Farsi, it is a voice of witness, an act of survival. A lyrical first-hand account. A cry of resistance. A vivid portrait through six years of incarceration and exile that – against all the odds – became an award-winning national bestseller.
Seeking Asylum: Our Stories
This beautifully illustrated hardback captures the stories of those who have lived the experience of seeking asylum.
In their own voices, contributors share how they came to be in Australia, and explore diverse aspects of their lives; these are stories of love, pain, injustice, achievement and everything in between. Accompanied by beautiful portrait photographs, they show the depth and diversity of people’s experience and trace the impact of Australia’s immigration policies.
100% of the proceeds from Seeking Asylum: Our Stories are donated to the ASRC.
Books to help kids understand the refugee experience
Questions and Answers about Refugees by Katie Daynes & Ashe de Sousa, illustrated by Oksana Drachkovska
Written with advice from the Refugee Council and drawing on conversations with refugees and aid workers from around the world, the questions in this book cover all stages of a refugee's journey, from fleeing danger and embarking on hazardous journeys, to seeking asylum and struggling to find a new place to call home. The language and scenes have been carefully considered to be appropriate for younger children, providing an extremely useful educational tool for families and schools.
The Arrival by Shaun Tan
What drives so many to leave everything behind and journey alone to a mysterious country, a place without family or friends, where everything is nameless and the future is unknown?
This wordless graphic novel is the story of every migrant, every refugee, every displaced person, and a tribute to all those who have made the journey.
Young adult fiction about refugees, detention and immigration in Australia
The Bone Sparrow by Zana Fraillon
Subhi is a refugee. Born in an Australian permanent detention centre after his mother fled the violence of a distant homeland, life behind the fences is all he has ever known. But as he grows, his imagination gets bigger too, until it is bursting at the limits of his world. The Night Sea brings him gifts, the faraway whales sing to him, and the birds tell their stories.
The most vivid story of all, however, is the one that arrives one night in the form of Jimmie, a girl who appears from the other side of the wires, and brings a notebook written by the mother she lost. Unable to read it, she relies on Subhi to unravel her own family’s love songs and tragedies.
When Michael Met Mina by Randa Abdel-Fattah
When Michael meets Mina, they are at a rally for refugees – standing on opposite sides.
Mina fled Afghanistan with her mother via a refugee camp, a leaky boat and a detention centre. Michael’s parents have founded a new political party called Aussie Values. They want to stop the boats. Mina wants to stop the hate. When Mina wins a scholarship to Michael’s private school, their lives crash together blindingly.
A novel for anyone who wants to fight for love, and against injustice.
Boy Overboard by Morris Gleitzman
Boy Overboard became a contemporary Australian classic after its first publication in 2002, for its empathetic and insightful portrayal of the human experiences that lay behind fear mongering news stories.
Jamal and Bibi have a dream: to lead Australia to soccer glory in the next World Cup. But first they must face landmines, pirates, storms and assassins. Can Jamal and his family survive their incredible journey and get to Australia?
A story of adventure, ball control and hope.
