Literature
Sharing stories is a big part of what Journeys Festival International enables - be that through art, music or performance. Books, storytelling and creative writing activities all form an important part of our programme. We are constantly on the look out for new and interesting resources that help children and young people, as well as adults, understand the refugee experience.
The Travelling Library
At our Festivals we provide a selection of reading materials - suitable for a variety of ages - in our Travelling Library area. A space to sit and quietly reflect.
You can find a list of the books we have sourced so far below.
The Travelling Library - Titles
Children:
Written and illustrated by Kate Milner
Their town is no longer safe anymore. Leaving will be sad, but quite exciting too. The journey will be long, but Mum will be there every step of the way.
Kindly donated by: Barrington Stoke
Nadine Kaadan
Haroun, the cat, sleeps in the sunlit courtyards of Damascus, but hates the smell of Jasmine. He tries to fix this which angers the Jasmine spirit. Sheds a welcome light onto Syria's long and proud cultural heritage in a period of history marred by war.
Kindly donated by: Nadine Kaadan
Karen Lynn Williams and Khadra Mohammed, illustrated by Doug Chayka
"Four Feet, Two Sandals" explores the incredible strength, hope and courage which refugee children have despite their lives being overshadowed by uncertainty and fear.
Kindly donated by: Karen Lynn Williams (Author)
Mary Hoffman, illustrated by Karin Littlewood
The story of Hassan, a young immigrant from Somalia. Life in his new home in England seems gray. However, as the story progresses, colour begins to reenter his life.
Kindly donated by: Frances Lincoln Children’s Books
Karen Lynn Williams and Khadra Mohammed, illustrated by Catherine Stock
Sangoel is a refugee, he fled his home of Sudan and arrived in the United States, he feels overwhelmed, homesick and like he is losing his identity. But he finds an ingenious way to overcome these challenges and begins to feel at home.
Kindly donated by: Karen Lynn Williams (Author)
Dreams of Freedom – In words and Pictures
Amnesty International
A collection of words and pictures to illustrate Freedom - Every Child has a right to Freedom
Kindly donated by: Frances Lincoln Children’s Books
We Are All Born Free – The Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Pictures
Amnesty International
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights beautifully illustrated by a collection of international renowned artists.
Kindly donated by: Frances Lincoln Children’s Books
Bernard Ashley
Nadine is scared of London, and scared for her father, who didn’t get out of Goma with her family. But then Nadine finds a photo from home, and she begins to dream again.
Kindly donated by: Barrington Stoke
Ten Thousand Bowls of Soup
Ross Frowen & Claire Steele, illustrated by Pip Morris
Henry finds his smile again helping to prepare 10,000 bowls of soup each day for the hungry and displaced who found themselves far from home, washed up on the beaches of Greece.
Kindly donated by: Ross Frowen & Claire Steele (Authors)
Young Adults:
Alpha: Abidjan to Gare du Nord
Bessora, illustrated by Barroux, translated by Sarah Ardizzone
A graphic novel by French author and illustrator duo, about Alpha, a young refugee who flees his home in Abidjan for Paris.
Kindly donated by: Barrington Stoke
Jane Mitchell
Ghalib doesn’t want to leave his home, but Syria has become too dangerous, and his family has no choice but to flee. Together they start their journey that leads them through dark and dangerous places.
Kindly donated by: Jane Mitchell (Author)
Sita Brahmachari
Can the reappearance of Nana Josie's Protest Book and the spirit it releases in Laila, her friends and her local community, help Laila find her own voice and discover what she truly believes in?
Kindly Donated by: Macmillan Children's Books
Gulwali Passarlay
The incredible true story of a boy fleeing his country and the perilous journey he took to find safety in Britain.
Kindly donated by: Gulwali Passarlay (Author)
Elizabeth Laird
Twelve-year-old Omar was raised in the beautiful and bustling city of Bosra, Syria. All her wants is to grow up to become a successful businessman. But when his older brother, Musa, gets mixed up with some young political activists, everything changes.
Kindly Donated by: Macmillan Children's Books
Jo Cotterill
Amina's homeland is ravaged by war- her family torn apart- she must travel with her mother and sister to a refugee camp. Many challenges lie ahead but can her imgintation get her through?
Kindly donated by: Penguin Random House
Young Adults:
Sita Brahmachari
Aisha is a thirteen- year old refugee living in London. She is happy for the first time since fleeing her war-torn home. But her foster mother announces that she must move to a new family, feeling rejected and abandoned, Aisha runs away, hiding in the nearby woods.
Kindly donated by: Macmillan Children's Books
Miriam Halahmy
A story about a teenager who finds a refugee washed up on the beach- she must choose between right and wrong. She holds the refugee’s fate in her hands what will she do?
Kindly donated by: Miriam Halahmy (Author)
Hong Dam
A visual story about Hong Dam’s childhood memories, dreams and feelings of hope as a child who fled her homeland.
Kindly donated by: Hong Dam (Author)
Adults :
Edited by Emma Lee and Ambrose Musiyiwa
An anthology of 101 poems which explore issues around being a refugee.
Kindly donated by: Emma Lee (writer and editor)
Warren FitzGerald
A powerful, heart-wrenching story of friendship and love. Clementine is a refugee from Rwanda and Ashley is a troubled singing teacher from London, they become friends and nothing is ever the same again.
Kindly donated by: Harper Collins UK
Charlotte McDonald-Gibson
Following the fates of five individuals fleeing war and persecution, offering a vivid glimpse into the personal dilemmas, pressures, choices and hopes that lie beneath the headlines.
Kindly donated by: Granta Books & Portabello Books
City Of Thorns – Nine Lives in the World’s Largest Refugee Camp
Ben Rawlence
In City of Thorns, Rawlence tells the stories of nine individuals to show what life is like in the one of the world’s largest refugee camps and to explore the wider political forces that trap the refugees there.
Kindly donated by: Granta Books
Olumide Popoola and Annie Holmes
Eight short stories explore the the refugee crisis through fiction, with humour, insight and empathy.
Kindly donated by: Peirene Press
Ahmed Masoud
What does it take to discover the truth? Betrayal? Deception? Risking one's own life? Omar Ouda did it all. A fictional story set agaisnt the political unrest in Palestine, following a young boy trying to find his father.
Kindly donated by: Ahmed Masoud (Author)
Edited by David Herd and Anna Pincus
A modern day version of the Canterbury Tales. Rather than a spiritual pilgrimage, these are fourteen refugee stories, from real life, of survival.
Kindly donated by: Comma Press
Black and White and Other New Short Stories from Malaysia
Edited by Emma Dawson & Macdonald Daly
Short stories around the theme of "One Malaysia", from almost every perspective conceivable. Exploring experiences of disenchantment, hope, struggle and social change. Part of the World Englishes Literature series.
Kindly donated by: Jet Stone Publishers
Butterfly Dreams and Other New Short Stories from Uganda
Edited by Emma Dawson
A series of short stories from Uganda, showcasing the work of new writers. Part of the World Englishes Literature series.
Kindly donated by: Jet Stone Publishers
Daughters of Eve and Other New Short Stories from Nigeria
Edited by Emma Dawson
A series of short stories from Nigeria, showcasing the work of new writers. Part of the World Englishes Literature series.
Kindly donated by: Jet Stone Publishers
The Spirit Machine and Other New Short Stories from Cameroon
Edited by Emma Dawson
A series of short stories from Cameroon, showcasing the work of new writers. Part of the World Englishes Literature series.
Kindly donated by: Jet Stone Publishers
Man of the House and Other New Short Stories from Kenya
Edited by Emma Dawson
A series of short stories from Kenya, showcasing the work of new writers. Part of the World Englishes Literature series.
Kindly donated by: Jet Stone Publishers
