Tag: refugees

Eve J. Chung’s—Daughters of Shandong *****

In 1948, when Mao’s army pushes back Chen kia Shek’s Nationalists’ fighters, life becomes increasingly dangerous for rich landowners like the Angs. At a family meeting, the grandmother ruthlessly decides they should all escape except her son’s wife and daughters since his wife has not produced a son. They leave for Qingdao, taking everything of value. When communist cadres arrive on their doorstep, the mother and the three daughters left behind are kicked out of their house and soon their long and treacherous journey begins.

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Omar El Akkad’s—What strange paradise *****

Amir’s uncle accompanies his family from Syria to Alexandria. But late one night, Amir creeps out of their apartment and follows his uncle who climbs on to a boat. He too ends up on the boat full of desperate passengers fleeing their homes. After Amir is washed ashore on a strange island, he flees the scene chased by soldiers. Vanna, a local teenager, sees him dashing towards her and hides him in their hayloft. But can she protect him from Colonel Kethros who is determined to detain the child in the camp with the rest of the refugees who have washed up on the island?

Sharon Bala’s — The boat people *****

Mahindan’s life in Sri Lanka where he was a mechanic was at the mercy of both the Lankan government and the Tigers before he escapes by boat to Canada. Grace, a hard line adjudicator has a tough stance on those who don’t arrive through the proper channels. And Priya, a lawyer is dragged into working with the refugees when she wants to specialize in corporate law. What will happen to the refugees who are turned back? How will the Canadian officials’ characters change after working with the Tamil boat people for months?

This 2018 Canada Reads contented book is the best book on the crisis in Lanka (that still continues today for anyone not Buddhist) and what Tamils endure to stay alive.

Christy Lefteri’s — The beekeeper of Aleppo

Nuri and Mustafa run a business selling honey and royal jelly from their hives in Syria. When life in Syria becomes dangerous, Mustafa sends his family to England, but neither he nor his cousin can leave their bees. Only when rebels burn all their hives does Mustafa leave, but Nuri’s wife, Afra refuses to budge.

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