Adnan
Mark Arrigo and Steven Chatterton, illustrated by Diala Brisly
Frances Lincoln Children’s Books

Ten year old Adnan and his mother had to flee their home country of Syria and are now safe in a new home in the UK. However, following the trauma, with both his Dad and sister having lost their lives in the war, Adnan’s mother is struggling with depression . Now though the boy embarks on a different kind of journey: to help his mother remember their lost loved ones and in so doing, gradually heal and start to build a happy new life together. He’s hopeful his plan will work as he begins collecting discarded materials from around the city and using them to recreate some of both the happiest and heartbreaking memories from their previous life – essentially story telling in three dimensions.

It’s not an easy undertaking but Adnan perseveres.

As he builds we learn of the traumatic boat crossing the two made and how his brave mother saved Adnan’s life when he tumbled overboard. We also perceive how much she means to him through the everyday things he dreams will soon become realities: all these things he puts in his notebook. A notebook that becomes a turning point for Adnan’s mother: a place from which to begin their life’s new adventure in a new home with a new purpose.

This is wonderfully portrayed in Diala Brisly’s illustrations.

I found this book particularly poignant as my partner and I befriended a family of refugees from Syria a few years back and then others from different parts of the world; but it’s equally pertinent now in the current climate with ever more people seeking refuge in our country and the less than positive reception many are sadly receiving. Happily however there are amazing people like the authors of this book who have given so much time, energy and love to helping refugees and other children lacking resources.

This story will one hopes, spark discussion and help to change negative attitudes towards asylum seekers. For every copy sold a donation of the book’s cover price will go to the charity Choose Love and the authors are both donating half of their royalties to the same charity.