The Unwanted: Stories of the Syrian Refugees

Don Brown tells the stories of refugees escaping from war-torn Syria in this powerful graphic novel. It's not just the leaving that is traumatic, but also the arriving; refugees are not wanted in most countries where they find a place of safety. Many refugees end up staying in temporary quarters for years. Their numbers overwhelm the countries where they settle. It is a story that needed to be told, and Brown tells the story in a way that allows the reader to understand the frustration of both the refugees and those living in places that offer sanctuary.

This is important information presented in a straightforward way. It's a short, easily-understood text that would be great in a classroom setting.

Short Review: I read an Arc of this without color. So that may have impacted my reading negatively. I have read a lot about the Syrian refugee crisis. I think non-fiction graphic novels can be an important source of understanding about difficult issues. But The Unwanted is a pretty basic introduction with no real narrative thread. The Syrian civil war is a humanitarian crisis. One that has been handled badly by the world and which has not really be helped by outside governments. The basic facts are here, the art is good, but there wasn't much that was added by the format.