A great book that allows students (any reader) to see life experience from another perspective. Even though it is not something that most of my students can relate to, it is still relatable and relevant. Plus, it will capture their attention and make them think.

Ghalib's story is a very effective way to teach today's middle school students what it is like to have to leave the home you knew and loved and become a refugee with an uncertain future. While learning the differences of his culture, Ghalib and his family are very easy to relate to, and the reader can not help but feel the emotions he and his family go through in trying to find a new, safe place to call home.

A colleague told me not to begin reading this unless I could finish it, and that was good advice because I didn't want to put it down. In addition to being fully invested in Ghalib and his family, I was fascinated by the different cultures and how their experiences differed so drastically from mine. I highly recommend this book for every intermediate and above classroom!

I think I've found my new read aloud for next month. As we move towards our last social studies unit (1975-present), I was looking for a current events tie-in. This is perfect. My 5th graders won't be able contain the,selves once we've read the first chapter.

Ghalib hates that life in Syria has changed so much. Bombs, scrounging for food, distrust. After he and his cousin is injured by a bomb, Ghalib's family decides they must leave the country but just getting to the border is difficult - snipers, opposing forces, hunger and thirst. Then other countries don't want them so it is more waiting, danger, extortion. Can his family make it safely out of Syria?
Based on accounts of refugees this story will shine a light on the crisis. This will be good for students who may need or want to know more about what is going on.
I am in an interesting situation as a librarian. My grade 1 - 5 school will be closing in a few years and merging with another school in the district and the grade spans will all be changed. For the most part my collection will be for a preK - 4 school with some going up to the restructured junior high which will include grades 5 - 8. All that being said, I am trying to steer away from adding too many new books that would be best suited, as this one is, to the older crowd.

Without Refuge tells a story that many American children and teens may be unfamiliar with. It tells the story of Ghalib, a young Syrian boy whose life is much, much different than many Americans' experiences.

Having grown up in Syria, Ghalib is no stranger to living each day with a sense of danger. In recent years, as war and violence have left an indelible mark on his country, he's learning fast that life is not something to be taken for granted. After he and his cousin are injured by a bomb near the local souq (marketplace), it finally becomes evident to Ghalib's family that they can stay in Syria no longer.

Ghalib, his younger brother (Alan), older sister (Bushra), mother (Dayah), father (Baba), and grandmother (Dapir) set out on a life-threatening journey to find somewhere safe outside of Syria. They must sneak away in order to avoid punishment by patrol units that seek to recruit Ghalib and Bushra for their citizen protection units. Not only must they leave to protect their children from guns and airstrikes, they must leave to save them from being conscripted into a war they had no part in starting.

Ghalib is a character that younger readers can connect to. Although he's living in a country and situation that they're likely to never experience, he can resonate with them. Ghalib is a caring older brother, frequently sees his older sister as grumpy and annoying, and wonders why items like his computer games and soccer books don't fall into the "bare essentials" pile when packing for their trip. He's being forced to survive an extraordinary situation, but he's still just an ordinary kid. Having that element of connection will make it easier for younger readers to make sense of the story, giving them someone familiar to cling to in the novel's unfamiliar world.

Our protagonist is one of the lucky ones. Although he's briefly separated from his family, he makes most of the journey surrounded by his loved ones as a constant source of encouragement and safety. Many children, in the real world, are not so lucky. Mitchell makes sure to show both sides of the coin by introducing characters who don't have that safety net and support system, to show that not all journeys are as "easy" as Ghalib's.

I think Without Refuge is an important book to start making its way into classrooms. It can fit into current events, history, or language arts classes with ease. In a society where children are being increasingly exposed to world news and daily political fiasco, it's important to broaden children's horizons in a safe space where they can learn about important events outside of their own zip-code. It deals with some tough issues- war, refugee crisis, racism/bigotry, and more.

While older teens (high schoolers) could probably tackle these themes on their own, I think it would be great to have middle school readers go through Without Refuge as a class or book club group, so they get the benefit of some pre-teaching and guidance throughout the novel.

The book comes with a glossary and notes from the author about the reality of the Syrian refugee crisis and real victims, and I think those are very helpful tools to remind students that just because the story takes place on the pages of the book does not mean it isn't rooted in the real experiences of others.

Overall, I hope that Without Refuge finds its way into the hands of many young readers and many classrooms. It's a story that needs to be told and shared.

Readers will get wrapped up in Ghalib’s story. The language in this book is straightforward enough for a middle-grade audience, but the ideas will allow for rich discussion.

This book is great. Looking through Ghalib's eyes, the Syrian Civil War and its far-reaching consequences becomes personal reality, not just the kind of far-away travesty you read about in the newspaper. The world Ghalib and his family struggle to navigate is brutal, but they cling to hope and humanity, just trying to find somewhere they can live in safety. Knowing that this is the reality lived by up to five million internationally displaced Syrians today makes you straighten up and wonder what you can do to help.