Refugees fear being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion. Read about their lives in these books recommended and reviewed by the Lewes Group in Support of Refugees and Asylum Seekers (LGSRAS).
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'The other side of truth' by Beverley Naidoo
Books for young people
A shot. Two shots at the gate in the early morning and a car screeches away down an avenue of palm trees. A tragedy and a terrible loss for Sade and her younger brother, Femi, children of an outspoken Nigerian journalist. Now they must flee the country for England. At once. And alone.
Review by Hanna, Sixth Form Centre student
"How do you know who you can trust? A very real story about coping with being a twelve year old in a confusing and often hostile new country."
'Refugee boy' by Benjamin Zephaniah
Alem is on holiday with his father for a few days in London. He has never been out of Ethiopia before and is very excited. They have a great few days togther until one morning when Alem wakes up in the bed and breakfast they are staying at to find the unthinkable. His father has left him.
Because of the political problems in Ethiopia, Alem's parents feel he will be safer in London – even though it's breaking their hearts to do this. Alem is now on his own, in the hands of social services and the Refugee Council.
This amazing story by Michael Morpurgo, based on reality, brought me to my senses as I realised how difficult life is for some people. The ups and downs of an Afghan refugee boy, trying to get into England really made me think.
Miriam, aged 11
'Shadow' by Michael Morpurgo
Aman and his mother are fleeing the horror of the war in Afghanistan. When a western dog shows up outside the caves where Aman lives with his mother, Aman is initially repulsed – it is not customary for people to keep dogs as pets in his part of the world. But the dog will not leave their side, and it soon becomes clear that the destinies of boy and dog are linked.
Hassan feels out of place in a cold, grey country so different from his colourful Somalian home, which he was forced to leave because of war. But gradually things change and Hassan notices the maroon prayer mat, a bright green cushion and his sister Naima's pink dress – the new colours of home.
'Refugee' by Angela Neustatter
First-hand accounts in question and answer format, giving an understanding of difficult experiences a young adult may have in a non-sensational and sympathetic way.
Short stories about children seeking asylum, showing us people forced to leave their homes or families to seek help and shelter elsewhere. Some are about young people travelling to other countries, others are concerned with children left behind when parents are forced to flee.
'Boy overboard' by Morris Gleitzman
Jamal and Bibi have a dream to lead Australia to football glory in the next World Cup. But first they must face landmines, pirates, storms and assassins. They're sure they can achieve their dream… if only they can get to Australia.
Review by Ahmed, aged 11
"It's Jamal's passion for football that keeps him going. This is a fast moving story about a family living in Afghanistan having to flee for their lives."
'Ruby Tanya' by Robert Swindells
Contemporary tale about two friends – one of whom, Asra, is an asylum seeker from an unnamed Eastern European country. The other, Ruby Tanya, is the daughter of a local man who is campaigning against the presence of asylum seekers in his community.
Complete with real-life case studies and interesting facts and figures from around the world, this book provides all the information children will need in order to make up their own minds on refugees and mass human displacement, for whatever reason.
Fiction for adults
'What is the what?' by Dave Eggers
Valentino Achak Deng is just a boy when conflict separates him from his family and forces him to leave his small Sudanese village, joining thousands of other orphans on their long, long walk to Ethiopia , where they find safety – for a time. Truly epic in scope, and told with expansive humanity, deep compassion and unexpected humour, this is an eye-opening account of life amid the madness of war and an unforgettable tale of tragedy and triumph.
Review by Jane, LGSRAS member
"This beautifully written classic has had me riveted throughout. I found its skillfully understated detail horrifying."
When Salma becomes pregnant before marriage in her small village in the Levant, she is swept into prison for her own protection and her newborn baby is snatched away. As an asylum-seeker she settles in Exeter, but soon decides to go back to the village to find her daughter.
Review by Pat, LGSRAS member
"An excellent read – cleverly written, subtle immersion in the feelings, thoughts and experiences of an asylum seeker making her way in an alien country, culture and language."
It's 2006 in Forest Gate, East London. Two teenage boys, best friends Ashvin and James, stand on top of twin tower blocks saying their final goodbyes in a suicide pact. The boys jump together but only Ashvin dies. As James struggles with guilt, Ashvin's grieving sister Armeina – a young refugee from Somalia – suffers the loss of her entire family.
This book is extremely funny, but the African beach scene is horrific. The story starts there, but the book doesn't. And it's what happens afterwards that is most important and the magic is in how the story unfolds.
1970s Afghanistan. Twelve-year-old Amir is desperate to win the local kite-fighting tournament and his loyal friend Hassan promises to help him. But neither of the boys can foresee what will happen to Hassan that afternoon, an event that is to shatter their lives.
'Human cargo' by Caroline Moorehead
Non-fiction for adults
'Human cargo' by Caroline Moorehead
Human smuggling is now said to have an annual turnover of over $7 billion – more than the revenue from smuggling drugs. This book looks at 'human cargo' from Afghanistan, Liberia, Palestine and many other places.
Review by Val, LGSRAS member
"This book is a clear, vivid and humane testimony to the lives of ten different groups of refugees. The author describes the inhumane treatment meted out by authorities to these people and their strength and courage to survive this."
Kate Clanchy meets a Kosovan refugee in the street as their children play. They immediately connect and on instinct, Kate offers Antigona a job as her nanny. Over five years an intense friendship develops and their different stories emerge – one, a middle-class, highly educated writer, the other, a refugee with almost no education who has escaped with her three children from a terrible war, a violent husband and the rural highlands of Kosovo,
Women refugees now in exile in Britain tell their stories in fiction, poetry and from memory in this anthology. Many of the contributors were writers before entering Britain and some of the writing reflects their political ideology and motivation.
Collection of memoir, fiction and poetry that explores being British from the perspective of the newly arrived. A personal and social history of the migratory tracks that have created the identities that form our society today and a reminder of what is is like to be an outsider.
Anthology of poems chosen by well-known names from the worlds of theatre, literature and film in response to the Afghan crisis. The poems range from Auden to Shakespeare, Brecht to Harry Secombe.
Political refugee David Ngaruri Kenney's harrowing odyssey through the world of immigration processing in the United States. While living in his native Kenya, Kenney led a boycott to protest against his government's treatment of fellow farmers. Arrested, he escaped execution and fled to America.
Alek Wek, supermodel, campaigner, spokesperson and entrepreneur, tells her amazing story, from war-torn Sudan to the catwalks of London, Paris and New York
More information
Find out about the services we offer to asylum seekers and refugees and support provided by LGSRAS.
East Sussex County Council