Akron Public Library

A short, powerful, illustrated book written by beloved novelist Khaled Hosseini in response to the current refugee crisis, Sea Prayer is composed in the form of a letter, from a father to his son, on the eve of their journey. Watching over his sleeping son, the father reflects on the dangerous sea-crossing that lies before them. It is also a vivid portrait of their life in Homs, Syria, before the war, and of that city's swift transformation from a...

"Syria, 2011: Teenage boys graffiti 'Down with the regime' on a wall. This small act is just one of the many sparks that ignite a revolution to overthrow the tyrannical rule of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad. But Assad and his supporters are ruthless: imprisonment, torture, and devastating massacres tear the country apart. Refugees begin to flee Syria in staggering numbers. The unexpected flood of victims overwhelms neighboring countries. Desperate...

"In this picture book, a young girl and her family are forced to flee their village to escape the civil war that has engulfed Syria and make their way toward freedom in Europe"--

"Growing up in Damascus, the pool was Yusra Mardini’s happy place. She learned to swim before she could walk. And with swimming came a dream―to compete in the Olympic games. But when war came to Syria, Yusra’s home―and her pool―were no longer safe. Yusra and her sister set out on a harrowing journey, crossing the sea in search of safety. In the inspirational tale that follows, Yusra’s courageous spirit shines. Crammed on a too-small refugee...

"An intimate and poignant memoir about the family of Alan Kurdi--the young Syrian boy who became the global emblem for the desperate plight of millions of Syrian refugees--and of the many extraordinary journeys the Kurdis have taken, spanning countries and continents. Alan Kurdi's body washed up on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea on September 2, 2015, and overnight, the political became personal, as the world awoke to the reality of the Syrian...