This book was a very real and raw collection of poetry, artwork and writings by young refugees around the world. Words cannot express the emotions that one can feel while encountering these beautiful works presented – the struggles, the hopes, the history, the pain. It was so eye-opening and made me feel like more needs to be done to truly understand the trials refugees, especially young refugees, encounter. I would recommend this book of hope to young adults as required reading.

Thank you to Netgalley, Andrews McMeel Publishing and Ahmed M. Badr for an advanced copy of this work.

This was a beautiful anthology of words. I felt like we were being given the opportunity to listen to people whose words go unspoken and unheard. While it wasn’t always an easy read it was absolutely a brilliant way to tell these stories.

This book hit me like a truck. I absolutely loved it. I finished it from cover to back in one stand and immediately restarted it again. It's one of those books that leave a long-term impact on your soul and 'I bought it for my friends. It's an important and emotional reading that everyone should be doing. I believe that this book is one of a kind, with stories that have to be shared to the world and voices that demand and deserve to be finally heard.

This collection of artwork, writing, poetry, and interviews from young refugees was beautiful, informative, important, hopeful. Every contributor is introduced with a short profile but Badr, the curator, doesn't overdo it, leaving the individual's art to speak for itself.

Youth is such an important time that shapes the rest of your life and the experience of being a refugee must have such a larger impact at a young age.

This collection really highlights the importance of family, especially the influence of grandparents in passing on wisdom and traditions. Every story about a grandparent evoked the same feeling I have when I am with my grandmother, a feeling of confident calmness. Many stories describe how there is so much pain from being separated from loved ones and not knowing if you will ever see them again.

Most importantly, this book allows you to consider each person as an individual, with their own history, struggle, and hopes for the future. As one of the contributors, Fidaa Aljabbarin, writes, "Do not define us by / Our tragedy / Our pain / Our sorrow / Our people / Our flag(s) / Define us by our / Souls / Stories / The distance between our truth and yours."

An amazing compilation!

Wow.

A must read for ignorants like myself.

I never had this much idea how mistreated refugees around the world are by the media misusing their power and by those who have been fed by these media the misleading news about them.

In this compilation, there are stories of refugees who have made a mark for themselves as journalists, artists, philanthropists, teachers, poets and writers, photographers and such amazing professions.

The poetry lines are hard-hitting. It just tells you the story each of these people have when in real no one actually tries to listen in real life.

Books like this matter a lot. It's books like this that make us know that they are people like us and not someone to be seen as threat and dangerous. Seriously, why are we still this ignorant?!

And yes, whenever you think you're smarter than someone else based on their looks and their background, it's you who's actually less smart (I don't want to use the word 'dumb').

Thank you, author/s and the Publisher for the book.

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

This book is a very raw and real account of what refugees around the world have and are going through in life. The poetry is very real and heart-renching and the artwork is beautiful and deep. The stories really open your eyes and make you experience visually what happens to people that we don't hear about.
Thank you for such a real and educational book!

This book contains a groundbreaking collection of poetry, personal narratives, and art from refugees all around the world. It is a very complete book. All the stories feel so genuine and deep. I hope all of these young people are alright and following their dreams. I honestly recommend this book to everyone, so that we can all understand how hard it is to believe everything behind. Rating: 4/5 stars.

A collection of feelings and experiences Shown through poetry stories and art.
Reading out the lifes of refugees makes me realise how blessed I am to have a roof over my head and food my table. Living in a world of consumerism makes us always want more and appreciate less the things we actually have.
We take our freedom for granted. Just like living in peace and being able to get education and more.
These stories of hope and daring teach us a lot about following our dreams despite all odds. And appreciating the things that actually matter.

This book is so heartbreaking to read. This is the first time I read a book about refugees told by refugees themselves. Most of the people here are either the same age as me or younger, and I just can't imagine that at such a young age they already experienced a lot. I loved all the perspectives and hope each and everyone in this book have and emanates. I admire their resiliency, but I just can't imagine the heartbreak alongside it as well. I loved all of the artwork, stories, and poetry in this book. This deserved to be read and appreciated by everyone.

This book make me realise how much we don't know about the refugees. This is a beautiful and heartbreaking collection of poetry, photography, poems and art by the Iraqi refugees. I especially loved the poem "psycho". Each art piece has a deep scar and significance in them. I felt intimately connected to the poems. Some artwork left me awe, while the poems had me in tears.
The language is easy and simple. This book has alot of significance and importance.It speaks about the section of people, whose pains and suffering are still unknown to the world. The title of this book fits perfectly. The cover is gorgeous and perfectly relays the theme of the book.

This is one of the most moving books I've read this year. If not ever.
A collection of poems, art and stories from many refugees, While the Earth Sleeps We Travel shows a lot of heart and a a lot of people that exist with hearts pumping blood not behind, but above the 'refugee' status. I was reading a poem from a girl half a world away from me, and it made me sad and excited at the same time. She' s not much older than I, and I just wanted to ask if she felt alone too, if she liked the bands that I liked. Maybe in some life we're friends. That's the magic in this work. Humans are made of stories. And this contains great humans with much to say to the world.
This book has people and a message of hope. Take that 2020 - something beautiful was released in chaos.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for an honest review.
Many thanks to those involved in sharing this with me.

I'm not the right audience for this book once I started reading. Right off the bat I had a sour taste in my mouth about how the author answered some basic questions people would ask. I suppose it gets annoying answering the same questions but people want to learn.
The book was good. I liked the combination of his work mixed in with the artwork/pictures of others. The poetry was deep and full of pain and emotion. I could definitely feel his heart with each word. It's a nice collection of words/art/stories.

ARC was provided by NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

This review is being published before the release date (October 13th, 2020)

Content/Trigger Warnings: War themes, bombings, refugee crisis, poverty, homelessness, mentions of gang violence, talk of racism, Islamophobia, mentions of terminal illness (cancer), death, murder, mentions of homophobia, mentions of drug abuse and drug addiction, grief, loss of a loved one, trauma, mentions of terrorism


“Together, we are speaking up and proclaiming to the world that our existence is worthy of its attention.”

Friends, I truly cannot express how important this collection is. I truly believe with my whole heart that this collection is a gift that should be talked about so much more. It’s rare when we hear the voices of people who have been severely impacted because of war, violence, and other hardships, but even rarer when they’re children. I think I spent my entire reading experience crying. This book truly is a gift and I hope many readers decide to pick this book up.

While the Earth Sleeps We Travel is a collection of poetry, stories, and art by refugees who have been displaced for various reasons, but the most common is war and violence. In this book these people come together to share their hardships, their experiences, hopes, and dreams. From those who are just children to an elderly artist determined to teach their artwork to those who’ll listen, we’ll hear the voices of refugees from a plethora of places. All beautifully expressed on page to be shared with the world.

“We have to find out what people like and need and use that to help them towards a better future.”

Truly, this book is a gift. It’s heartbreaking, humbling, and encouraging. As I mentioned, I spent the entirety of this book crying because it was so moving. I’ve listed some of the pieces that really stood out and touched the softest part of my heart.

⛰️ Erwin’s Story
⛰️ Lina Habazi’s Story
⛰️ Karem Potela’s Story
⛰️ O’s Story
⛰️ Meteorite Yasan’s Story

I truly hope everyone picks this book up and take the time to listen to the voices on the pages in this book. I think this book is going to unravel many people, cause the readers to pause and really take a look at their privilege. I don’t think everyone will appreciate this book, but I think everyone needs to read this book at least once in their life.

Overall, this was just a really touching book. I can’t encourage you enough to take the time to pick this book up and hear the voices of these people. Their experiences, their souls have been laid bare for all to read and experience in this book. This is such an important collection and I hope it gets the spotlight that it truly deserves.


The quotes above were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.

This is not necessarily a poetry book, but more so short essays/stories/narratives based on the author’s experiences. Regardless even though I expected poetry, the narrative still touched me with the personal experiences from Badr that even included photos.

This is the best book I’ve read in a long time.

With so young beginning artists, I thought the aim of this book was mainly to re-humanize us readers, giving a face and an individual journey to those who are frequently deindividualized and put together under the label of refugees.

But how wrong I was. Do not mistake me, it does that too, incredibly well. But I was delightfully surprised to find so many incredibly talented artists and writers. I ended the book feeling it was not enough, that I needed to find more of their work.
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It is true not all works are masterpieces, but still, not one of them failed to move me, to trigger my humanity back to life. I cried a lot reading this book, but I also laughed, inspired by the strength and sensibility of these artists.

More initiatives like this are needed, spaces to allow those people to take back their narratives, tell them in their own terms and share their inspired subjectivities. I can only feel most grateful for having the opportunity to listen to their songs, lives and souls.

The book is a gathering of arts made by refugees from Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Venezuela, Sudan, Iran, Bangladesh, Palestine, Kenya and Somalia. Children, teenagers and adults artists who express themselves through writing, paintings, drawings and words.

There are several very beautiful poems, others not so much; just like the paintings. But as one of the artists (Jafal Osman) says in the book: "the point is not to always make something beautiful, but to create art that shows how you feel" AND I CANNOT AGREE MORE !!! It expresses exactly what I think and, as a fan of Dada, I don't care about the beautiful things.

The author is also a refugee, and has helped many people with workshops and platforms to present his art and that is very beautiful.

The highlight of the book, in my opinion, is the painter Jameel Khan and Meteorite Yasan, who makes tapestries.

This book is a gift. It is a gift we have been given by these young people to see just a little deeper into their lives and experiences. These young people show unbelievable strength, vulnerability, insight, courage, curiosity, and resilience. The book recounts unimaginable horrors and trials, but also how people keep going. This book is a collection of poetry, artwork, interviews, and photographs based on the refugee experience. It is humbling, heartbreaking, and encouraging; it is at times uncomfortable to face and reflect on ourselves, but it is at times funny, and beautiful, and simply human.

Buy this book, read this book, share it with your friends, your family! "To listen is to learn", and through this book, that is what we have the opportunity to do. I cannot truly understand what I have never lived through, but this is a book that certainly helps bring me a little closer to learning through each contributor's story. It is moving, beautifully compiled, and well written. There is so much talent between these pages. Please read this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. But more importantly, thank you to every contributor to this book for your art and stories. My opinions are all my own.

**I received and voluntarily read an e-ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Even though it could be read in one sitting, I wanted to take my time with this book, since it's an collection of stories, poetry, photographs and artwork by several different young refugees from around the world.

Some of the pieces are more touching than others, Some of the artwork is childlike- and that's when you take a moment and realize- these ARE children. Children who have been forced to leave their homes and sometimes their families behind. Some of them will never see their families again.

Some of the most touching pieces actually had me in tears, but other pieces had me laughing, and still others had me hopeful that even after all they've been through, these people just want to make a difference in the world so no others have to suffer like they did.

I don't think everyone will appreciate the heart and soul that have gone into this book, but I do think everyone should read through it at least once.

Notable pieces that will stick with me are some of the photographs by Solve Manson, "Naag ska dig (Act Like a Woman" by Khadija Mohamed, some of the artwork by Mirna Aslan and probably the most well known piece from the book, the poem by Ahmed M. Badr "A Thank-You Letter from the Bomb That Visited My Home".

There is a poem by Alfahad Tabrizi, "The Anatomy of Tyranny" that is scarily accurate- so much so that it should be published in every paper and online blog until the US elections are over in November 2020. It should be shared and shared again until everyone has read it. Hopefully anyone who reads this poem will stop and think about what they have read. This poem alone is worth the price of the book.

Overall, it's an amazing collection that I wish I could award more than 5/5 stars.