Books to Understand the Refugee Experience | A Reading List
Here’s a range of books (nonfiction, poetry, short stories, fiction, graphic novels, etc.) to provide a wider context of the journeys of refugees.
The refugee experience, often overshadowed by political discourse, is deeply human and incredibly diverse.
From harrowing escapes to the struggle for identity, these books offer a window into the lives of refugees, here’s a reading list spanning different time continents, perspectives, and genres—from nonfiction, poetry, short stories, fiction to graphic novels:
Africa
When Stars are Scattered by Omar Mohamed and Victoria Jamieson (2020)
This heartwarming graphic novel tells the real-life story of Omar, a Somali refugee living in a Kenyan refugee camp with his younger brother, Hassan. Through engaging artwork and a touching narrative, the book sheds light on the harsh realities faced by refugees while celebrating the enduring bond between two brothers who dare to dream of a better future. Mohamed is also the founder of Refugee Strong, a nonprofit organization focused on students living in refugee camps.
Genres: Graphic novel, Middle grade, Nonfiction, Memoir, Comics, Kenyan literature
Travelers by Helon Habila (2019)
Through a series of interconnected stories, Helon Habila delves into the realities of those displaced and uprooted by war. The narrative spans from Berlin to Italy, sharing the stories of the African diaspora and refugees as they build their lives away from home.
Genres: Literary fiction, Contemporary literature, Nigerian literature
Mare Nostrum by Khaled Mattawa (2019)
Poet Khaled Mattawa's verses challenge readers to confront the human cost of mass migrations. This collection focuses on the Mediterranean Sea that so many try to cross from North Africa to reach Italy. These poems serve as a stark reminder of war's enduring impact on both individual lives and the collective human experience.
Was my dream worth more than enough
air to live on, something between
banal sin and the creator’s potency?
— “Season of Migration to the North/Northwest”
Genres: Poetry, Libyan literature
The Girl Who Smiled Beads by Clemantine Wamariya and Elizabeth Weil (2018)
In this memoir, Clemantine Wamariya, along with Elizabeth Weil, details her harrowing journey as a child refugee fleeing the Rwandan genocide. Forced to leave her homeland, she embarks on a perilous odyssey from Africa to the US with her older sister, navigating a landscape fraught with danger and uncertainty. The book explores the profound impact of displacement, trauma, and loss on Clemantine's life, as she seeks to find her identity and heal the emotional wounds inflicted by war.
Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Autobiography, Rwandan literature
Call Me American by Abdi Nor Iftin (2018)
From a fascination for America to fleeing the dangers when al-Shabaab rose to power, this book chronicles Abdi's remarkable journey from a war-torn Somalia and Kenya to becoming an American citizen. Parts of his story have also been featured on BBC World Service and This American Life.
Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Somali literature
Teaching My Mother How To Give Birth by Warsan Shire (2011)
Poet Warsan Shire, through her vivid and emotive language, explores the experiences of refugees and navigates the complexities of femininity and family within the context of geopolitical violence, offering a unique perspective on the personal consequences of war. It's a compelling journey through pain, strength, and the transformative power of storytelling in healing and understanding.
My mother uses her quiet voice on the phone:
Are they all okay? Are they healing well?
She doesn’t want my father to overhear.
— “Things We Had Lost in the Summer”
Genres: Poetry, Nonfiction, Feminism, Somali literature, Contemporary literature
Sweetness in the Belly by Camilla Gibb (2005)
Following the life of Lilly, this book traces Lilly’s—an English girl raised by Sufi Muslims in Morocco—journey from her childhood in Morocco and Ethiopia to her adulthood in London. Gibb’s narrative weaves together history, religion, and personal growth to create a moving and thought-provoking tale.
Genres: Historical fiction, Moroccan literature, Ethiopian literature
Season of Migration to the North by Tayeb Salih (1966)
In this story, our unnamed narrator returns to his village in Sudan after studying in Europe. He encounters Mustafa Sa'eed, a mysterious figure whose tragic and violent past in England reflects the turbulent intersection of East and West. Tayeb Salih dives into the complex themes of identity, colonialism, and the effects of geopolitical conflict.
Genres: Historical fiction, Classics, Sudanese literature
Asia
What Strange Paradise by Omar El Akkad (2021)
This novel centers around the journey of Amir, a Syrian young boy who is the sole survivor of a capsized refugee boat, and Vänna, a teenage girl who finds and aids him in evading authorities in a foreign land. Together, they navigate a landscape marked by stark divisions and dangers, shedding light on the human cost of global crises and the power of unexpected connections.
Genres: Literary fiction, Contemporary, Political fiction
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