The latest statistics from the United Nations Refugee Agency state that, globally, one in every 113 people is either an asylum-seeker, internally displaced or a refugee. It can be difficult to imagine or understand the experiences faced by the 21.3 million refugees, but there are an increasing number of books written by, or about refugees. Here are some of our recommendations.

REFUGEES & ASYLUM SEEKERS IN FICTION

The Refugees by Viet Thanh Nguyen

Pulitzer Prize-winner Viet Thanh Nguyen’s collection of short stories takes a deeply personal look at the displaced refugees who fled to America in the aftermath of the Vietnam War. Nguyen drew from his own experiences to create this deeply personal book – his family escaped South Vietnam and came to the US when he was a child in 1974. St Kilda shop manager Amy Vuleta says The Refugees is ‘unflinchingly direct and immensely strong but never heavy-handed’.

No More Boats by Felicity Castagna

Set in 2001 during the Tampa crisis, this new novel by Felicity Castagna explores the Howard government’s Border Protection Policy through the experiences of a post-war Italian migrant whose struggle with social and economic pressures leads him down the path of xenophonic racism. Carlton Bookseller George Delaney says No More Boats is ‘grim and absolutely relevant to our present, disappointingly similar as it is to the new-old rhetoric of assimilation and blatant xenophobia that is hurled around by politicians now’.

On the Java Ridge by Jock Serong

The new novel from award-winning writer, Jock Serong, takes its name from a fictional Australian tourist boat, the Java Ridge. The boat’s skipper, Isi Natoli, and a group of travellers come up against the government’s hardline policy on rendering assistance to asylum-seeker vessels when a nearby boat carrying refugees runs into trouble. Readings managing director, Mark Rubbo, says that with this book, ‘Serong cements his growing reputation as the thinking person’s adventure writer; this is such a strong book on so many levels’.

STORIES FROM REFUGEES & ASYLUM SEEKERS

They Cannot Take the Sky edited by Michael Green, Angelica Neville, André Dao, Dana Affleck and Sienna Merope

The first-person narratives collected in They Cannot Take the Sky reveal the reality of life in mandatory detention by those who’ve experienced it. Benjamin Law says: ‘The importance of reading these voices cannot be underestimated. This should be mandatory reading for every voting-age Australian.’

Songs of a War Boy by Deng Thiak Adut with Ben McKelvey

Deng Thiak Adut overcame extraordinary adversity to become a successful laywer who helps refugees, with a law practice of his own in western Sydney. His autobiography charts his journey from Sudanese child soldier, to refugee, to 2017 NSW Australian of the Year.

The Girl Who Beat ISIS by Farida Khalaf with Andrea C. Hoffmann

The Girl Who Beat ISIS offers a first-person account of what happened after 18-year-old Yazidi girl, Farida Khalaf, and the other women from her village were captured and held by the Islamic State. This memoir shows first-hand what life is like for innocents caught up in the maelstrom of day-to-day life with ISIS.

YOUTH LITERATURE ABOUT REFUGEES & ASYLUM SEEKERS

My Two Blankets by Irena Kobald and Freya Blackwood

Winner of the 2015 Children’s Book Council Award for Picture Books, My Two Blankets is the story of Cartwheel, who feels lonely and isolated after the family comes to Australia. A friendship that develops through mutual understanding and the sharing of language eventually leads to a renewed sense of belonging. This heartwarming picture book is a beautiful way to open up a discussion about refugees with readers ages 5 and up.

Hope in a Ballet Shoe by Michaela DePrince with Elaine DePrince

Michaela DePrince’s journey started in war-torn Sierra Leone where rebels killed her father and her mother died of fever and starvation. Superstitious of her vitiligo, her uncle abandoned her at an orphanage where she was eventually adopted and brought back to the US. DePrince went on to battle prejudice and racism to become an international ballet star – joining the Dutch National Ballet at just 19. Her autobiography is a powerful story for ages 11 and up. For younger readers there is a new picture book version of DePrince’s story, Ballerina Dreams.

When Michael Met Mina by Randa Abdel-Fattah

Randa Abdel-Fattah’s novel When Michael Met Mina won both the People’s Choice, and Writing for Young Adults Awards at the Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards. Written in alternating chapters in the voices of both Michael and Mina, this is a fascinating look at the opposing sides in the refugee debate without resorting to stereotype or cliché. Our reviewer says it’s ideal for ages 13 and up.

Lian Hingee