A Dangerous Crossing

by Jane Mitchell

Ghalib doesn't want to leave his home in Syria. But the city has become too dangerous, and his family has no choice but to flee. Together they make their way through Syria to the Turkish border, where Ghalib gets separated from his family. Stricken with grief and fear, fighting cold, pain and hunger, he manages to make it to a refugee camp in Turkey. Ghalib is safe for now, but life in a refugee camp is wretched and hopeless, and this boy's journey in search of safety is far from over. Based on true accounts and real Syrian children, A Dangerous Crossing is the story of one boy's search for refuge.

Genres: Middle Grade, Young Adult, Middle East, Fiction, Childrens, Politics

Paperback

Published February 23, 2017

About the author

Jane Mitchell was born in England, but she moved to Ireland later on, where she studied in Trinity College, Dublin, and taught elementary school children for a while before working in the community with at-risk teenagers who had dropped out of formal education.

She has also worked with young adults with disabilities.

Reviews

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Based on far too many tragic true stories, this novel follows the journey of 13-year-old Ghalib, who flees the war in Syria with his family, enduring danger, hardship and loss. Each character's name is that of an actual Syrian child who has died in the war - a beautiful and heartbreaking tribute. I kind of want to beat everyone who looks down on and rails against refugees over the head with this book.

[Moira McPartlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This YA novel tells the story of a family fleeing from Syria. Told from the point of view of Ghalib, it shows the reader the many complex reason why people flee their homes and risk their lives to reach freedom. Although written for children I believe everyone should read this to try to understand the plight of refugees. An horrific story beautifully written.

[Kieran Fanning · Rating 4 out of 5]

This well researched, and brilliantly written novel tells the story of Ghalib's journey from Syria in search of a new life. An excellent read that gives you a real taste of what it must be like to be a refugee. Highly recommended for kids of 11+.

[Claire Hennessy · Rating 3 out of 5]

(from the Irish Times, 15 Feb 2o17)
"A long-standing and award-winning member of the Irish children’s book world, Jane Mitchell often writes about the most vulnerable in our society. Her latest novel, A Dangerous Crossing (Little Island, €9.99), is told from the perspective of a Syrian refugee. Thirteen-year-old Ghalib – named, like all the characters, after real Syrian children who’ve died – must flee his increasingly terrifying home country. This journey has been incredibly well researched, and Amnesty International has endorsed the book. As a story, it is sometimes frustrating – travelling with his family, Ghalib makes very few decisions for himself, and his personal conflicts are resolved too quickly– but it certainly succeeds in its goal to inform and induce empathy in its readers."

[martini - shaken, not stirred · Rating 4 out of 5]

word to aylan

[Cristina · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book with valuable insights into a refugee’s journey. Sometimes I wish politicians would have to read books like these, so they would feel the effect of their policies more strongly. I found myself heartbroken and in constant fear for Ghabil and his family. However I am giving it 3 stars only because of the writing style which I didn’t personally like that much, and also like other readers pointed out the storyline isn’t extremely exciting. Although I would rather read a less exciting storyline that is true to real life than something exciting that doesn’t reflect reality accurately.

[mu o surtadoh · Rating 4 out of 5]

O livro conta a história de Ghalib que tem 13 anos e passa por uma grande aventura para chegar na Europa onde tudo pode dar errado ou dar certo (infelizmente não sabemos se deu tudo certo).
INCRIVEL!
O livro consegue te deixar feliz e triste, com raiva e tranquilo sem muitos problemas e ao mesmo tempo. A autora nos mostrou como a vida de uma família da síria é difícil e como tudo pode dar errado ou certo e com as pessoas não se preocupam com tudo isso, com as pessoas não tem paciência e respeito com essas pessoas que passam por tudo isso. A história vai te mostrar porque você não deve desistir de chegar onde você tiver que estar, mesmo as pessoas te recebendo a pedradas. Vai te mostrar como é importante ficar ao lado de quem ama. Como não é fácil a vida de pessoas que só querem viver bem e confortável com a família.
Mas o livro não é 'tão' perfeito assim teve uma coisa que eu acho que poderia ser diferente, no livro explica que Ghalib não tem a escola completa mas ele usa palavras complicadas. Nesse livro poderia ter usado a mesma forma que em "Flores para Algernon" onde, no inicio, escreveu as palavras erradas. Eu acho que com as palavras erradas não ficariam ruim e até mais fácil de entender a história. Mas de resto eu achei o livro perfeito a história é muito envolvente, não dá vontade de largar o livro por um minuto.

[Trajano Lima · Rating 5 out of 5]

Esse livro deveria ser lido por todos aqueles que acreditam que merecem alguma coisa neste mundo. Enquanto estamos confortáveis em nossas casas, lendo livros e tomando um chá antes do jantar, tem muita gente passando necessidade fora de suas casas, sendo expulsos de seu próprio país, sendo abusados e maltratados por homens inescrupulosos, egoístas e insensatos. Os jovens e crianças são quem mais sofrem nesse ambiente hostil que é a guerra e carregarão pelo resto de suas vidas o peso de uma vida interrompida. Parabéns para Jane Mitchell por ter escrito esse romance baseado na história de milhares de sírios que saem de seu conturbado país em busca de uma vida incerta na Europa. O livro tem uma linguagem simples e foi escrito para jovens leitores. Foi um dos melhores livros que já li este ano.

[Gustavo Freitas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uma Travessia Perigosa é um bom livro por abordar um tema urgente e necessário. Trata-se de uma obra curta, com uma escrita que não é exatamente simples, mas também está longe de ser complicada — é uma prosa correta, funcional, com um ritmo geralmente fluido.
Entre os pontos negativos, sem entrar em spoilers, destaco a construção de alguns personagens secundários, que acabam soando caricatos ou excessivamente vazios, sem uma personalidade bem definida. Entendo que as crianças da narrativa passaram por experiências extremas e traumáticas, mas isso não justifica totalmente algumas falas excessivamente adultizadas, que quebram a verossimilhança em diversos momentos.
A ambientação funciona de maneira irregular: em certos trechos é razoável e até eficiente, mas em outros a autora não consegue sustentar a atmosfera de forma convincente. Além disso, os sentimentos do protagonista muitas vezes parecem repetitivos e genéricos, o que acaba enfraquecendo a imersão e distanciando o leitor da experiência emocional do livro.

[Aline Batista dos S. Silva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Indicação Semanal = “Uma Travessia Perigosa”
🖋 PUBLICAÇÃO DE = Jane Mitchell
📃 PÁGINAS = 208
Avaliação: 5.0 ⭐

A ficção possui plano de fundo na guerra experienciada pelo povo sírio, cenário de caos que envolve forças dos próprios civis, o governo do país, bem como os grupos específicos que se colocam como oposição ao famigerado EI (...) Com narração em primeira pessoa, essa jornada evidenciada coloca um jovem menino como responsável pela exposição de suas experiências no decurso das conflagrações, sob menção ao caminho que percorreu na companhia dos familiares para fugirem das marcas incuráveis relacionadas ao período.

codinomeviesacademico.blogspot.com/20...

#UmaTravessiaPerigosa #JaneMitchell

[Sue Murdoch · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Dangerous Crossing is on the current HBA shortlist 2018. I have read three of the books so far and having finished it yesterday it is the story whose characters have lingered longest in my mind. This year's list is a good one, so my comment carries weight. Jane Mitchell conveys Ghalib's story with a sensitive eye to her readers, but still manages to inform and draw us into Syria's ongoing civil war, wider global involvement and how ordinary people like us find themselves in this horrific and heartbreaking situation. This is a 'must read'.

[Andy Thorn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have bought and read this book as it is one of the finalists of the Hampshire Book Awards 2018. It is a strong and very worthy addition to the shortlist. A compelling and heart-breaking story based on the far-too-numerous tragic true stories of Syrian refugees fleeing a conflict not of their making. Widely researched and well-written, I truly hope that it is widely read by children and it allows them to empathise and view refugees with a compassion so sadly lacking in many of the world’s current political leaders and commentators.

[Ellie]

Politely, don’t read this book. With all due respect to the author, the unoriginality of this book makes you long for classics such as Harry Potter and Percy Jackson. I can guarantee The mundane storyline will make you think that you have read the book before as it follows the exact same template of every other war time book in existence. Don’t come at me.

[Ia Khachirashvili · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has to be one of the most insightful and educational books ever. Despite not having a first hand account of the atrocity ensuing, she still told a great vantage point in the form of the little Syrian boy. Highly recommend it. This can open your mind struggles of the third world.

[Paula Rooney · Rating 5 out of 5]

So glad that I read this book. It was so well written, I felt like I went on their journey with them, smelling, seeing and sensing everything they experienced. Fabulous book, although it was fiction it felt very real.

[Good Night To Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deeply moving and absorbing story of a refugee family's flight from Syria.

[Rezaul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing!

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Felt like a genuine insight into the story of a refugee family, I couldn't put this down and at the end of each chapter just *had* to find out what happens next.

[Rebecca Nichols · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really well written. Respectful and sensitive. Appropriate ending and thought-provoking afterword.

[trijnewijn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dit verhaal kruipt onder je vel, dat je als volwassene sommige namen herkent maakt het er niet beter op. Het is geschreven voor iets oudere kinderen, maar dat stoort niet. Ik besefte het eigenlijk enkel door de relatief goede afloop voor de hoofdpersonages.

[Ciarán Howley · Rating 5 out of 5]

So beautiful, so moving and heartfelt. Glad I had the opportunity to review for Gobblefunked.ie as I think this is an extremely important and frighteningly real depiction of the struggles of innocent Syrian migrants and everything they've had to sacrifice. Super amazing and should be shoved into the hands of anyone willing to read! Loved it!

[Zeeshan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Cave Title: This heartbreaking journey is being lived out by thousands of people in real time with a very small chance of a happy ending. Literally had to sit a while in reflection as I finished this title which uses names based on actual children who have died as a direct result of the war in Syria.

[Isaac Rodrigues · Rating 5 out of 5]

Livro super legal! Gostei bastante