What do you think?
Rate this book
Stormy Seas: Stories of Young Boat Refugees
The phenomenon of desperate refugees risking their lives to reach safety is not new. For hundreds of years, people have left behind family, friends, and all they know in hope of a better life. This book presents five true stories about young people who lived through the harrowing experience of setting sail in search of Ruth and her family board the St. Louis to escape Nazism; Phu sets out alone from war-torn Vietnam; José tries to reach the U.S. from Cuba; Najeeba flees Afghanistan and the Taliban; Mohamed, an orphan, runs from his village on the Ivory Coast. Aimed at middle grade students, Stormy Seas combines a contemporary collage-based design, sidebars, fact boxes, timeline and further reading to produce a book that is ideal for both reading and research. Readers will gain new insights into a situation that has constantly been making the headlines.
64 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2017
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 161 reviews
February 7, 2017
Stormy Seas is a book about immigration. It tells multiple individual stories about children migrating away from their homes to escape to a better place. The illustrations and photos help bring the story to life. Children will understand how serious and dangerous their lives became. It's frightening and eye opening.
The book gives information about where they're coming from, why, when, number of passengers, name of boat, destination, events that took place along the way, and their fate.
I highly recommend this book for schools, libraries, and parents.
Thanks Netgalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
The book gives information about where they're coming from, why, when, number of passengers, name of boat, destination, events that took place along the way, and their fate.
I highly recommend this book for schools, libraries, and parents.
Thanks Netgalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 21, 2017
"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"—Emma Lazarus
Today, June 20, 2017, is International Refugee Day. I think most people tend to think that “boat people” are a temporary problem, and relatively minor in compared to other issues in the world. Most of us do know that droves of people have left Syria and are flooding primarily Europe and causing political unrest. People are leaving the EU in part because of disagreements about just what to do about “the refugee problem.” But the fact of refugees is inseparable from the problems of war, hunger, water, global warming, and so on. Today there are over 7 billion people on our rapidly shrinking planet. Of those 7 billion, over 65 MILLION are refugees, who have become so due to war, persecution, or natural disasters.
We are now at an important ethical moment in the history of the world, though as this book makes clear we have long had refugees. The focus in this non-fiction book is boat people, people who have left their countries via waters, and the authors chose the stories of five different individuals from different time periods to historicize the problem: Ruth and her family escape the Nazis; Phu escapes Vietnam during the war; José goes to the U.S. from Cuba; Najeeba flees Afghanistan and the Taliban; Mohamed, an orphan, leaves his village on the Ivory Coast. Each of these stories present pretty happy endings, but there are also indications that millions of people do not and have not reached happy endings.
This is an important book for our time.
Refugee movement since 2000:
https://www.fastcompany.com/40423720/...
Hong Kong asylum seekers:
http://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport...
International Refugee Day, 2017:
http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/various...
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"—Emma Lazarus
Today, June 20, 2017, is International Refugee Day. I think most people tend to think that “boat people” are a temporary problem, and relatively minor in compared to other issues in the world. Most of us do know that droves of people have left Syria and are flooding primarily Europe and causing political unrest. People are leaving the EU in part because of disagreements about just what to do about “the refugee problem.” But the fact of refugees is inseparable from the problems of war, hunger, water, global warming, and so on. Today there are over 7 billion people on our rapidly shrinking planet. Of those 7 billion, over 65 MILLION are refugees, who have become so due to war, persecution, or natural disasters.
We are now at an important ethical moment in the history of the world, though as this book makes clear we have long had refugees. The focus in this non-fiction book is boat people, people who have left their countries via waters, and the authors chose the stories of five different individuals from different time periods to historicize the problem: Ruth and her family escape the Nazis; Phu escapes Vietnam during the war; José goes to the U.S. from Cuba; Najeeba flees Afghanistan and the Taliban; Mohamed, an orphan, leaves his village on the Ivory Coast. Each of these stories present pretty happy endings, but there are also indications that millions of people do not and have not reached happy endings.
This is an important book for our time.
Refugee movement since 2000:
https://www.fastcompany.com/40423720/...
Hong Kong asylum seekers:
http://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport...
International Refugee Day, 2017:
http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/various...
July 29, 2017
Documents experiences of real people who fled their homelands by boat as children. Would pair with Gratz's Refugee.
March 8, 2018
Leatherdale here recounts the true stories of five children who, as refugees, fled their homelands in boats seeking a new home and safety. These stories, told partly in the children’s own words, are harrowing and sad, though all end happily. Leatherdale includes statistics, maps, and photos as well as Eleanor Shakespeare’s illustrations in dark ocean colors, to tell their stories. Anyone who complains about immigrants in their community needs to read books like this to understand the conditions these people were fleeing from. Refugees should be welcomed, but, as all five of these children found out, are often the targets of prejudice and hate. This book belongs in all school and public libraries. Highly recommended.
January 14, 2017
The thing about history, is that it repeats and repeats itself, and those of us who notice this know from past experience what to expect. This book is the story of refugees, stories told by them directly, or from source material. How long have their been people trying to escape their homeland for a new world? In the book, the time line stretches back to 1670, but that doesn't mean that was when the first refugees appeared.
In very simple language, the stories are those of Jews escaping the nazis, but told from the view of one individual. All these stories involve travel by sea, as that is the easiest way to escape. Besides the Jews, we also hear about the Vietnamese Boat people, boat people of Cuba, boat people from Afganistan and boat people from the Ivory Coast. Some have found much better lives in their new countries, others, although they are still alive, have not faired quite as well.
It is good to have books like this. Children may not see themselves in these boat children, but they can read their stories, and know that it could have happened to them. This is especially important in the current xenophobic world we are living in. I would highly recommend this book for schools and libraries.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
In very simple language, the stories are those of Jews escaping the nazis, but told from the view of one individual. All these stories involve travel by sea, as that is the easiest way to escape. Besides the Jews, we also hear about the Vietnamese Boat people, boat people of Cuba, boat people from Afganistan and boat people from the Ivory Coast. Some have found much better lives in their new countries, others, although they are still alive, have not faired quite as well.
It is good to have books like this. Children may not see themselves in these boat children, but they can read their stories, and know that it could have happened to them. This is especially important in the current xenophobic world we are living in. I would highly recommend this book for schools and libraries.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
November 5, 2018
I liked this book a lot. While reading I learned quite a bit about immigration and the risks and rewards of migrating. This book reminded me very much of the book "Refugee" that I have currently finished reading. Both had similar aspects and ideas. I would recommend this book to anyone who would like to read a historical fiction book but also learn a lot of information.
September 19, 2022
INCREDIBLE! This book should be mandatory reading for all children of middle school age (and adults). With the controversy now over migrants and immigrants, this book shows the other side of the story, the reality of people who are forced from their homes, who need new homes and what they go through to find them. Touched my heart.
March 29, 2019
This book was ok. It was kind of confusing but the illustrations were good.
June 26, 2020
First of all, the book just smells good. 😉 We are using this as our summer school text. The stories of refugees are high interest and students are learning a lot about geography as well as the human spirit. The illustrations and text features are beautiful.
June 10, 2017
This is an important book. It gives a historical context for the current refugee crises and provides hopeful stories of survival and success.
April 16, 2017
Stormy Seas: Stories of Young Boat Refugees
By Mary Beth Leatherdale
Illustrated by Eleanor Shakespeare
Rating 5
Synopsis
The phenomenon of desperate refugees risking their lives to reach safety is not new. For hundreds of years, people have left behind family, friends, and all they know in hope of a better life. This book presents five true stories about young people who lived through the harrowing experience of setting sail in search of asylum: Ruth and her family board the St. Louis to escape Nazism; Phu sets out alone from war-torn Vietnam; José tries to reach the U.S. from Cuba; Najeeba flees Afghanistan and the Taliban; Mohamed, an orphan, runs from his village on the Ivory Coast. Aimed at middle grade students, Stormy Seas combines a contemporary collage-based design, sidebars, fact boxes, timeline and further reading to produce a book that is ideal for both reading and research. Readers will gain new insights into a situation that has constantly been making the headlines.
This book is heart and gut wrenching. So much so, that I found myself in a quandary in how to begin. This is a story that needs to be told and told again and again. This is our world’s history from the 1600’s (and probably long before) to the present day...over 400 years of children and families seeking a safe place to live. I’m not going to get into the politics, ethical, religious and social issues of the circumstances involved. These are stories of five children out of how many???? I have absolutely no idea,,,too may to be sure. This book is not a fairytale and there is no princess. It is not fantasy or make-believe either. This is a story about real children who live in real danger every single day. It is a story about parents who are trying their best to save their children and to give them a chance at a better and longer life.
First there is Ruth who was !8 when she had to flee Nazi Germany in 1939 and who, in a circumvented way, eventually ended up in the USA.
Next is Phu who had to leave Vietnam at the age of 14. He arrived here in the USA in 1980.
Jose had a much shorter journey; but by no means any safer. He fled Cuba for the USA in 1980. He was 13.
Najeeba left Afghanistan at the tender age of 11. She arrived in Australia in 2000.
Then there is Mohamed who found his way to Italy in 2006. He was 13.
How these five children arrived at their final destinations is so vividly told that a child of the same age as these child refugees would be able to understand their stories AND, I think, THAT is what is important. The art work by Eleanor Shakespeare is beyond amazing as it brings visualization to each story. It is important to read every single page from the introduction to all of the time lines to fully begin to grasp the seriousness, gravity and danger of each story. These are only five stories out of thousands, hundreds of thousands through out the years who have had to flee their homeland with their parents or alone to just stay alive. I can't imagine nor fathom such a situation or environment.
Parental Note: This book is recommended by the publisher for children 10-12. I had to give this some serious thought as I have a 10 year old granddaughter. My recommendation would be to read this book WITH your 10 year old child. For children older, I suggest you read the book first in order to be prepared to answer any questions and for some serious discussions. Again, I reiterate, this is not a fairytale nor fantasy...this is real life for so many children. A story that our own children should know about.
By Mary Beth Leatherdale
Illustrated by Eleanor Shakespeare
Rating 5
Synopsis
The phenomenon of desperate refugees risking their lives to reach safety is not new. For hundreds of years, people have left behind family, friends, and all they know in hope of a better life. This book presents five true stories about young people who lived through the harrowing experience of setting sail in search of asylum: Ruth and her family board the St. Louis to escape Nazism; Phu sets out alone from war-torn Vietnam; José tries to reach the U.S. from Cuba; Najeeba flees Afghanistan and the Taliban; Mohamed, an orphan, runs from his village on the Ivory Coast. Aimed at middle grade students, Stormy Seas combines a contemporary collage-based design, sidebars, fact boxes, timeline and further reading to produce a book that is ideal for both reading and research. Readers will gain new insights into a situation that has constantly been making the headlines.
This book is heart and gut wrenching. So much so, that I found myself in a quandary in how to begin. This is a story that needs to be told and told again and again. This is our world’s history from the 1600’s (and probably long before) to the present day...over 400 years of children and families seeking a safe place to live. I’m not going to get into the politics, ethical, religious and social issues of the circumstances involved. These are stories of five children out of how many???? I have absolutely no idea,,,too may to be sure. This book is not a fairytale and there is no princess. It is not fantasy or make-believe either. This is a story about real children who live in real danger every single day. It is a story about parents who are trying their best to save their children and to give them a chance at a better and longer life.
First there is Ruth who was !8 when she had to flee Nazi Germany in 1939 and who, in a circumvented way, eventually ended up in the USA.
Next is Phu who had to leave Vietnam at the age of 14. He arrived here in the USA in 1980.
Jose had a much shorter journey; but by no means any safer. He fled Cuba for the USA in 1980. He was 13.
Najeeba left Afghanistan at the tender age of 11. She arrived in Australia in 2000.
Then there is Mohamed who found his way to Italy in 2006. He was 13.
How these five children arrived at their final destinations is so vividly told that a child of the same age as these child refugees would be able to understand their stories AND, I think, THAT is what is important. The art work by Eleanor Shakespeare is beyond amazing as it brings visualization to each story. It is important to read every single page from the introduction to all of the time lines to fully begin to grasp the seriousness, gravity and danger of each story. These are only five stories out of thousands, hundreds of thousands through out the years who have had to flee their homeland with their parents or alone to just stay alive. I can't imagine nor fathom such a situation or environment.
Parental Note: This book is recommended by the publisher for children 10-12. I had to give this some serious thought as I have a 10 year old granddaughter. My recommendation would be to read this book WITH your 10 year old child. For children older, I suggest you read the book first in order to be prepared to answer any questions and for some serious discussions. Again, I reiterate, this is not a fairytale nor fantasy...this is real life for so many children. A story that our own children should know about.
January 13, 2018
This was very interesting. This book contains five different stories of people who were trying to escape their circumstances in their home countries to move to a safe environment.
I really thought this book was going to be about all of these people trying to get to the United States, but this was not the case.
What I liked most about this book is that it not only told the story of each individual, but there were statistics about world events that influenced each refugee, as well as a "What Happened to ...?" paragraph for each.
I really thought this book was going to be about all of these people trying to get to the United States, but this was not the case.
What I liked most about this book is that it not only told the story of each individual, but there were statistics about world events that influenced each refugee, as well as a "What Happened to ...?" paragraph for each.
August 27, 2019
Extremely powerful nonfiction picture book about various migrant survival stories throughout history: kids escaping Nazi Germany, Vietnam, Cuba, Afghanistan, and the Ivory Coast. Appropriate for younger readers to recognize history repeating itself and to help develop empathy for situations readers have never personally experienced. Would make an excellent resource to pair with teaching Refugee by Alan Gratz. Ages 10 and up.
December 8, 2020
Short nonfiction picture book that pairs nicely with Refugee by Alan Gratz.
November 2, 2017
Stormy Seas is a timely look at young refugees of the past, especially considering the current refugee crisis in which more than five million people have fled Syria, half of whom are children. This book helps to show us that refugees are not new at all -- the young people featured in this book fled from Germany, Cuba, Vietnam, Ivory Coast, and Afghanistan, all due to violence, government oppression, or other threat of persecution.
Each of the five sections shares the story of one person's flight, the reasons for leaving, and a first-person account of their time on the boat. We are then given a summary of what has happened to them since these events. More than one of these desperate refugees were turned away from the country they had initially been trying to reach.
This book is well designed, with many photos and quotes set off from the main text, as well as maps and other illustrations to create visual interest. But what interested me the most were the stories of these refugees, who are humanized in these pages rather than appearing as statistics.
In the introduction, the author tells us:
"If you're reading this, you--like me--have probably won the lottery. Not the giant-check, instant-millionaire kind of lottery. The other lottery win--the really valuable one. That random, lucky break that means you were born in or immigrated to a relatively peaceful and prosperous place in the world."
It's not always something we're forced to think about, but this book helps young adults appreciate their situation by sharing the stories of others, and hopefully encourages empathy in our response toward those who simply want to survive.
(Thanks to NetGalley for the review copy.)
Each of the five sections shares the story of one person's flight, the reasons for leaving, and a first-person account of their time on the boat. We are then given a summary of what has happened to them since these events. More than one of these desperate refugees were turned away from the country they had initially been trying to reach.
This book is well designed, with many photos and quotes set off from the main text, as well as maps and other illustrations to create visual interest. But what interested me the most were the stories of these refugees, who are humanized in these pages rather than appearing as statistics.
In the introduction, the author tells us:
"If you're reading this, you--like me--have probably won the lottery. Not the giant-check, instant-millionaire kind of lottery. The other lottery win--the really valuable one. That random, lucky break that means you were born in or immigrated to a relatively peaceful and prosperous place in the world."
It's not always something we're forced to think about, but this book helps young adults appreciate their situation by sharing the stories of others, and hopefully encourages empathy in our response toward those who simply want to survive.
(Thanks to NetGalley for the review copy.)
February 6, 2017
I received a free copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I LOVED this book. It is actually a non-fiction collection of stories about young people who fled their countries by boat. There is a story about a young jew in World War II, but there are also stories that the author gathered from the actual people herself - stories about refugees from Cuba, Vietnam, Afghanistan and Ivory Coast. I found it to be very moving and in this day and age where in Germany the so-called "refugee crisis" is a topic that is majorly present in everyday discussion and media, this is a very important book to be released.
Stormy Seas comes out April 11, 2o17.
I LOVED this book. It is actually a non-fiction collection of stories about young people who fled their countries by boat. There is a story about a young jew in World War II, but there are also stories that the author gathered from the actual people herself - stories about refugees from Cuba, Vietnam, Afghanistan and Ivory Coast. I found it to be very moving and in this day and age where in Germany the so-called "refugee crisis" is a topic that is majorly present in everyday discussion and media, this is a very important book to be released.
Stormy Seas comes out April 11, 2o17.
July 29, 2018
One of the consequences of war is a high number of people who are forced to leave their homeland because of danger and/or persecution and seek asylum in other countries. Today, we see people seeking asylum from places like the Middle East, Mexico, and Central American countries. Many young readers may think that these stories they have been hearing about in the news and on TV about people fleeing their homeland are a new phenomena.
But, in fact, there have been a number of times that people left their homes to seek safety in the past. In Stormy Seas, readers will learn about five different young boat refugees who were forced to escape their homelands between 1939 and 2006.
The first story involves Ruth, an 18 year old Jewish girl who was lucky enough to get passage on the SS St. Louis in 1939, believing she was leaving behind the persecution of Jews in Nazi Germany for safety in Cuba. But after arriving in Havana, Cuba refused to let the desperate passengers disembark, and when others country, including the US, refused to accept any of them, the ship was forced to return to Europe.
In 1979, the mother of 14-year-old Phu knew she had to get her son out of communist controlled Vietnam before he was forced into the army and certain death. Phu's mother paid a smuggler $3,500 for passage in an overcrowded boat, a dangerous trip made worse by pirates who stole everyone' money, jewelry, and food.
For José, 13, and his family, escaping Cuba really was a matter of life and death. His father had already been arrested twenty years earlier for plotting to overthrow Fidel Castro's communist government and now, in 1980, the family knew it would carry a stigma of suspicion forever if they remained in Cuba. Delays and rough seas made the 90 mile trip in an overcrowded boat very dangerous, as people became sick and stressed, and the boat began to take on water.
When the Taliban took over Afghanistan, life became dangerous for anyone who disobeyed their strict Sharia law. But for Najeeba, 11, and her family, the danger was even greater because they were member of the Hazara minority and as such, risked being killed. Najeeba's parents paid a smuggler $35,000 to get them passage to Australia and what they hoped would be safety. The family left Afghanistan in an overcrowded fishing boat that soon sprung a leak.
Lastly is the story of Mohamed, 13, from Maple, Ivory Coast in Africa. Mohamed's parents had been killed in a bombing and rebel forces had taken over his village. His older brother had already fled and Mohamed knew it was time for him to go, too. He walked to a refugee camp in Guinea, worked to save enough money to pay human traffickers for passage to Libya to be able to cross the Mediterranean Sea for asylum in Europe. And so once again, a child boarded an overcrowded boat hoping to find peace and safety at the end of his journey.
Mary Beth Leatherdale presents each one of these stories with compassion and understanding. She follows through, telling readers what became of each of the young people profiled and gives important statistics about their country and the refugees who left, and who were not always welcomed in the countries where they sought asylum. Their stories will certainly resonate with today's readers. There are also sidebars that give more information about each person's homeland and why they had to leave, and back matter that includes a timeline of people who sought asylum by boat, as well as resources for further reading.
Each of the young people survived their harrowing journeys and made new, successful life for themselves and their families. Their resilience, determination, and courage is so inspiring, and, I believe, they will also foster more empathy for today's refugees.
This book is recommended for readers age 10+
This book was an EARC received from NetGalley
But, in fact, there have been a number of times that people left their homes to seek safety in the past. In Stormy Seas, readers will learn about five different young boat refugees who were forced to escape their homelands between 1939 and 2006.
The first story involves Ruth, an 18 year old Jewish girl who was lucky enough to get passage on the SS St. Louis in 1939, believing she was leaving behind the persecution of Jews in Nazi Germany for safety in Cuba. But after arriving in Havana, Cuba refused to let the desperate passengers disembark, and when others country, including the US, refused to accept any of them, the ship was forced to return to Europe.
In 1979, the mother of 14-year-old Phu knew she had to get her son out of communist controlled Vietnam before he was forced into the army and certain death. Phu's mother paid a smuggler $3,500 for passage in an overcrowded boat, a dangerous trip made worse by pirates who stole everyone' money, jewelry, and food.
For José, 13, and his family, escaping Cuba really was a matter of life and death. His father had already been arrested twenty years earlier for plotting to overthrow Fidel Castro's communist government and now, in 1980, the family knew it would carry a stigma of suspicion forever if they remained in Cuba. Delays and rough seas made the 90 mile trip in an overcrowded boat very dangerous, as people became sick and stressed, and the boat began to take on water.
When the Taliban took over Afghanistan, life became dangerous for anyone who disobeyed their strict Sharia law. But for Najeeba, 11, and her family, the danger was even greater because they were member of the Hazara minority and as such, risked being killed. Najeeba's parents paid a smuggler $35,000 to get them passage to Australia and what they hoped would be safety. The family left Afghanistan in an overcrowded fishing boat that soon sprung a leak.
Lastly is the story of Mohamed, 13, from Maple, Ivory Coast in Africa. Mohamed's parents had been killed in a bombing and rebel forces had taken over his village. His older brother had already fled and Mohamed knew it was time for him to go, too. He walked to a refugee camp in Guinea, worked to save enough money to pay human traffickers for passage to Libya to be able to cross the Mediterranean Sea for asylum in Europe. And so once again, a child boarded an overcrowded boat hoping to find peace and safety at the end of his journey.
Mary Beth Leatherdale presents each one of these stories with compassion and understanding. She follows through, telling readers what became of each of the young people profiled and gives important statistics about their country and the refugees who left, and who were not always welcomed in the countries where they sought asylum. Their stories will certainly resonate with today's readers. There are also sidebars that give more information about each person's homeland and why they had to leave, and back matter that includes a timeline of people who sought asylum by boat, as well as resources for further reading.
Each of the young people survived their harrowing journeys and made new, successful life for themselves and their families. Their resilience, determination, and courage is so inspiring, and, I believe, they will also foster more empathy for today's refugees.
This book is recommended for readers age 10+
This book was an EARC received from NetGalley
April 27, 2021
An informational novel that had me saying “WOW!” throughout the book was Stormy Seas: Stories of Young Boat Refugees by Mary Beth Leatherdale.
This book beautifully represents the sad and scary nature of being a boat refugee. I remember hearing about boat refugees several years ago and I felt sorrow for these people, but I had no idea about the numerous perils these people faced trying to get away from their home countries conditions.
This book has five different TRUE stories within it, each told by a different person from a different country in a different year. This provided many insights as to what different people went through in different time periods. It will be as eye-opening for students as it was for me, and there are many moments that made me grateful for the life I have today. There are also pictures, maps, and some facts about boat refugees which I really appreciated and helped the book come alive for me.
I think this book would be great for students to start conversations about real-world problems and possible solutions. I think this book would be a great read aloud book because it will connect the whole class and there can be very deep discussions about our world and how people live in it. There are heavy topics within this book, so reading it with the class to discuss these topics with them would help students better understand the meaning of the concepts in the book. I think it could also inspire a writing exercise where students write to their local government about immigration and creating a welcoming space for them where there is no prejudice (as some of these children witness in the book).
Overall, I would definitely recommend this book for fifth grade students and I hope it inspires them to want to make a difference in the lives of refugees, as it did for me!
This book beautifully represents the sad and scary nature of being a boat refugee. I remember hearing about boat refugees several years ago and I felt sorrow for these people, but I had no idea about the numerous perils these people faced trying to get away from their home countries conditions.
This book has five different TRUE stories within it, each told by a different person from a different country in a different year. This provided many insights as to what different people went through in different time periods. It will be as eye-opening for students as it was for me, and there are many moments that made me grateful for the life I have today. There are also pictures, maps, and some facts about boat refugees which I really appreciated and helped the book come alive for me.
I think this book would be great for students to start conversations about real-world problems and possible solutions. I think this book would be a great read aloud book because it will connect the whole class and there can be very deep discussions about our world and how people live in it. There are heavy topics within this book, so reading it with the class to discuss these topics with them would help students better understand the meaning of the concepts in the book. I think it could also inspire a writing exercise where students write to their local government about immigration and creating a welcoming space for them where there is no prejudice (as some of these children witness in the book).
Overall, I would definitely recommend this book for fifth grade students and I hope it inspires them to want to make a difference in the lives of refugees, as it did for me!
June 26, 2020
In this book we learn the real stories of five young people, traveling by boat and seeking refuge from their native countries, from 1939-2006. Ruth from Breslau, Germany travels to Havana, Cuba, on the SS St. Louis in 1939. Phu, a refugee from Saigon, Vietnam, leaves his family in 1979, and joins a crowded boat with the hope that America will be his destination. The next refugee is Jose from Sancti Spiritus, Cuba, who leaves Cuba with his family and becomes part of the Mariel Boatlift in 1980. Najeeba from Bamiyan, Afghanistan, flees from the Taliban with her family and embarks on a boat from Indonesia headed to Australia in 2000. Mohamed from Maple, Ivory Coast, finds himself alone and embarks on a crowded boat trying to get to Europe in 2006. This is a powerful book that recounts turbulent times in history and how people struggle to survive and make better lives for themselves. Readers will appreciate learning about what happened to each refugee after they survived their perilous journeys. This title is on the list of 2021 Rebecca Caudill Award Nominees.
Reviewed by: Liz Glazer, Youth and School Services, Vernon Area Public Library
Reviewed by: Liz Glazer, Youth and School Services, Vernon Area Public Library
September 29, 2017
I highly recommend this book. After meticulous research and connecting with young refugees to hear their stories, Mary Beth Leatherdale presents their first-person accounts, the reasons they had to flee, their harrowing journeys, and what ultimately became of them. The children range in age from 11 to 18. Ruth escapes Nazi Germany, Phu leaves South Vietnam, Jose gets out of Cuba, Najeeba runs from the Taliban in Afghanistan, and Mohamed flees the Ivory Coast civil war. Their experiences are terrifying and their chosen places of asylum are far from welcoming. I broke down and cried several times, thinking of my own children in those situations. The history of each country they left is included, but none of it is too dense—Eleanor Shakespeare's layout, illustrations, and graphic design held my interest, and I believe it's broken up in a way that will keep the attention of middle and high school students. I'm not sure how much the current president would understand, but I wish we could make him sit down and read a list of required books. If so, this would be one of them.
August 17, 2018
While researching for my senior paper, I learned that around half of refugees are children, and half are female yet nearly every story told about refugees are from the perspective of adult men. While their stories are definitely still worth hearing, we need to make an effort to also hear the stories of children and women. That's why I so appreciated this book. Although it was geared toward a juvenile audience, it was refreshing to read stories from the perspective of refugee children, both male and female, and from nearly every continent. The diversity was wonderful. The author also used direct quotes from the children she interviewed, rather than telling their story for them. Overall, a solid, quick read that I would recommend for people of all ages, but especially children.
May 3, 2021
What I loved the most was *learning* how the refugee situation is not just applicable to one time and place. This is a worldwide and across time humanitarian crisis that people should really learn about and show empathy, or look for ways to help. I also value the Caudill label and agree this is a special collection of true stories. I think the only reason I am not rating this higher is that I personally prefer novels where I can grow more attached to the characters/people as they develop.
January 9, 2018
What a great book to pair with Refugee! Stories of children who left their homes in search of asylum told in plain language. An important window for children as they learn that humanitarian crisis is wide spread, real and nothing new and that the human spirit is resilient and hope can be found in even the worst of circumstances. (see previous reviews for more detail)
August 20, 2017
The real stories of real people escaping persecution and hardship by boat. Five stories that extend across modern history from WWII to Syria. Powerful, timely and important and very good to have it in our classrooms. Illustrations, statistics and fact boxes add to the power and utility of the text.
January 21, 2018
This is an important collection of powerful true stories of young people forced to leave their homelands, both past and present. Stormy Seas is an important book that can be used to spark much-needed discussions.
August 24, 2019
Really good young adult non-fiction. Engaging pics, info graphs, text boxes, and timelines. Each story followed a person and there was a follow up section on what ended up happening to the refugee.
January 28, 2018
This pretty much took my breath away. The stories are told in such simple terms, but with amazing depth and breadth. The illustrations are extraordinary.
January 29, 2019
This book is about immigration and the troubles that young people went through to get better lives in other places. This was a good book. It was also a quick read.
December 15, 2019
I wish the book was printed in a different size instead of like a picture book.
Kept thinking of Refugee by Alan Gratz and how this would pair so nicely with that.
Kept thinking of Refugee by Alan Gratz and how this would pair so nicely with that.
August 4, 2020
Vivid descriptions, MG, future classroom purchase
Displaying 1 - 30 of 161 reviews