I chose to read the graphic novel The Unwanted: Stories of the Syrian Refugees, which was about Syrian refugees. This novel told stories about Syrians escaping their country for safety and freedom. Moreover, this novel showed what it was like during the Syrian war and the everyday life of a Syrian. I really enjoyed reading this book because it showed what life is really like for these refugees and the hardships and dangers they went through. My favorite part was when a child was able to escape and eventually find a new home. I believe that the form of a graphic novel really brought these stories to life because you can really see the emotions of the people, which paints a better picture of what is really going on around the world. In addition, the text bubbles in the novel allowed the reader to know what people were thinking about in different situations such as when Syrian refugees were smuggled onto small boats. After reading this, I feel inspired to do more research and educate myself more on the Syrian refugee crisis. I think this is a great novel to read in order to understand what hardships people are facing when they don’t have the privilege of living in a safer country.
—Linda Rossi, CMRD101 Fall 2020