Refugee Experience

Last Updated: August 13, 2020

A Different Pond by Bao Phi

A Different Pond
by Bao Phi

An unforgettable story about a simple event – a long-ago fishing trip.

Lost and Found Cat by Amy Shrodes and Doug Kuntz

Lost and Found Cat
by Doug Kuntz

A heartwarming true story of one lost cat’s journey to be reunited with his refugee family.

The Journey by Francesca Sanna

The Journey
by Francesca Sanna

Chronicles the unexpected, grueling migration of a family whose lives are forever changed by war.

Islandborn by Junot Diaz

Islandborn
by Junot Diaz

Lola’s teacher asks the students to draw a picture of where their families immigrated from. With the help of her family and friends, Lola’s imagination takes her on an extraordinary journey back to The Island.

Painted Words by Aliki

Two stories in one book, the first telling of Mari’s starting school in a new land, and the second describing village life in her country before she and her family left in search of a better life.

The Only Road by Alexandra Diaz

The Only Road
by Alexandra Diaz

Twelve-year-old Jaime makes the treacherous journey from his home in Guatemala to his older brother in New Mexico after his cousin is murdered by a drug cartel.

A Long Walk To Water by Linda Sue Park

A Long Walk to Water
by Linda Sue Park

When the Sudanese civil war reaches his village in 1985, eleven-year-old Salva becomes separated from his family and must walk with other Dinka tribe members in search of safe haven.

Refugee by Alan Gratz

Refugee
by Alan Gratz

The stories of three kids from different time periods, Josef, Isabel, and Mahmoud as they embark on harrowing journeys in search of refuge.

Escape from Aleppo by N. H. Senzai

Escape from Aleppo
by N.H. Senzai

The story of 15 year old Nadia after she is separated from her family and a mysterious old man who helps her navigate the checkpoints and snipers of the rebel, ISIS, and Syrian armies to meet her father at the Turkish border.

The Red Pencil by Andrea Davis Pinkney

The Red Pencil
by Andrea Davis Pinkney

The powerful story of Amira’s triumphant journey, inspired by true tales of life in Sudan.

Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai

Inside Out and Back Again
by Thanhha Lai

Through a series of poems, a young girl chronicles the life-changing year of 1975, when she, her mother, and her brothers leave Vietnam and resettle in Alabama.

I Lived on Butterfly Hill by Marjorie Agosín

I Lived on Butterfly Hill
by Marjorie Agosin

When her beloved country, Chile, is taken over by a militaristic, sadistic government, Celeste is sent to America for her safety and her parents must go into hiding before they “disappear.”

Pashmina by Nidhi Chanani

Pashmina
by Nidhi Chanani

Indian-American teen, Priyanka “Pri” Das, attempts to reconnect with her mother’s homeland through a magical pashmina shawl. Presented in comic book format.

Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga

Other Words for Home
by Jasmine Warga

Sent with her mother to the safety of a relative’s home in Cincinnati when her Syrian hometown is overshadowed by violence, Jude worries for the family members who were left behind as she adjusts to a new life with unexpected surprises.