A Refugee's Journey from Afghanistan. (Leaving My Homeland). Helen Mason. St. Catharines, ON: Crabtree, 2017. 32 pp., pbk., hc. & html, $9.95 (pbk.), $26.95 (List RLB), $21.56 (School RLB). ISBN 978-0-7787-3129-0 (pbk.), ISBN 978-0-7787-3125-2 (RLB), ISBN 978-1-4271-1878-3 (HTML). Subject Headings: Refugees-Afghanistan-Juvenile literature. Refugee children-Afghanistan-Juvenile literature. Afghan War, 2001- -Juvenile literature. Refugees-Social conditions-Juvenile literature. Afghanistan-Social conditions-Juvenile literature. Grades 2-4 / Ages 7-9. Review by Suzanne Pierson. **** /4
	A Refugee's Journey from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. (Leaving My Homeland). Ellen Rodger. St. Catharines, ON: Crabtree, 2017. 32 pp., pbk., hc. & html, $9.95 (pbk.), $26.95 (List RLB), $21.56 (School RLB). ISBN 978-0-7787-3156-6 (pbk.), ISBN 978-0-7787-3126-9 (RLB), ISBN 978-1-4271-1879-0 (HTML). Subject Headings: Refugees-Congo (Democratic Republic-Juvenile literature. Refugees-Canada-Juvenile literature. Refugee children-Congo (Democratic Republic)-Juvenile literature. Refugee children-Canada-Juvenile literature. Refugees-Social conditions-Juvenile literature. Congo (Democratic Republic)-Social conditions-Juvenile literature. Child soldiers-Congo (Democratic Republic)-Juvenile literature. Grades 2-4 / Ages 7-9. Review by Suzanne Pierson. **** /4
	A Refugee's Journey from Iraq. (Leaving My Homeland). Ellen Rodger. St. Catharines, ON: Crabtree, 2017. 32 pp., pbk., hc. & html, $9.95 (pbk.), $26.95 (List RLB), $21.56 (School RLB). ISBN 978-0-7787-3157-3 (pbk.), ISBN 978-0-7787-3127-6 (RLB), ISBN 978-1-4271-1880-6 (HTML). Subject Headings: Refugees-Iraq-Juvenile literature. Refugees-United States-Juvenile literature. Refugee children-Iraq-Juvenile literature. Refugee children-United States-Juvenile literature. Refugees-Social conditions-Juvenile literature. Iraq-Social conditions-Juvenile literature. Grades 2-4 / Ages 7-9. Review by Suzanne Pierson. **** /4
	A Refugee's Journey from Syria. (Leaving My Homeland). Helen Mason. St. Catharines, ON: Crabtree, 2017. 32 pp., pbk., hc. & html, $9.95 (pbk.), $26.95 (List RLB), $21.56 (School RLB). ISBN 978-0-7787-3184-9 (pbk.), ISBN 978-0-7787-3128-3 (RLB), ISBN 978-1-4271-1881-3 (HTML). Subject Headings: Refugees-Syria-Juvenile literature. Refugees-Europe-Juvenile literature. Refugee children-Syria-Juvenile literature. Refugee children-Europe-Juvenile literature. Refugees-Social conditions-Juvenile literature. Syria-Social conditions-Juvenile literature. Boat people-Syria-Juvenile literature. Boat people-Europe-Juvenile literature. Grades 2-4 / Ages 7-9. Review by Suzanne Pierson. **** /4

excerpt:

Etienne's Story: My New Home in Canada

The day we left for Canada, my heart was full of joy. But I was also sad to be leaving my homeland. No one knew if my father and brother were still alive. It felt as though we were leaving them behind. We still do not know if they are alive. (From A Refugee's Journey from the Democratic Republic of Congo.)

Leaving My Homeland is a very timely new series by Crabtree Publishing. There are currently four books in this series: A Refugee's Journey from Afghanistan, A Refugee's Journey from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, A Refugee's Journey from Iraq, and A Refugee's Journey from Syria.

      For students (and adults) trying to make sense of the daily media images we see from around the world, and for the newcomers that we meet in our classrooms and in our neighbourhoods, these books present four personal stories from a child's perspective. The stories are unique, but they share a common storyline: a child's life is disrupted by conflict in their homeland. The reasons why there is conflict vary, but the results are the same. The family is forced to flee the conflict.

      Each book follows one child and his or her family as they relocate. Statistics, maps, background information about the homeland country, and specifics of the crisis set each family's story in a unique context. Highlights of the United Nation's Rights of the Child encourage students to think critically about our global responsibility to help refugees. As well, each book includes a table of contents, a simple glossary, an index, and a page of resources for additional information. The books each end with a list of ways young readers can help.

      Discussion prompts, such as, "Explain the difference between a refugee, an immigrant, and an IDP", help students consolidate their learning from the books while more open-ended discussion prompts, like "Brainstorm a list of ways you can help welcome Syrian refugees in your community", will promote deeper thinking and encourage action.

      A Refugee's Journey from Afghanistan tells the story of Sonita who was born in Pakistan where her family were refugees from war in Afghanistan. Sonita was able to attend school in the refugee camp in Pakistan, but her family's life was disrupted there again, this time by the local Pakistan authorities. Although many parts of Afghanistan are still dangerous, Sonita's family chose to be repatriated to Afghanistan rather than continue their difficult lives as unwelcome refugees in Pakistan.

      A Refugee's Journey from the Democratic Republic of Congo tells Etienne's story from his time as a child soldier in the DRC to his arrival in Montreal, Canada. Etienne's first eight years were peaceful and happy, but then he was kidnapped and forced to become a child soldier. After finally escaping, he was sent to a reintegration centre. Eventually, Etienne was reunited with just part of his family, his mother and sister. After three years in a refugee camp in Rwanda waiting for their application to be processed, Etienne, his mother, and sister were finally accepted as refugees to Canada.

      A Refugee's Journey from Iraq<.i> tells the story of Zainab who has never known peace in her homeland. With her home destroyed by bombing and her father on a death list because he acted as an interpreter for the Americans, Zainab and her family fled from Iraq to Jordan. After a wait of many years, they were accepted as refugees to the United States.