South Sudan
Searching for a book that’s both meaningful and memorable this summer? Explore a world of remarkable stories by and about refugees – from the pages of international bestsellers by Isabel Allende and Khaled Hosseini to the voices of talented Australian authors including Anh Do and Kgshak Akec.
These powerful narratives invite us to walk alongside people who have been uprooted from everything they know – fostering empathy, understanding and a stronger sense of solidarity with refugees around the world.
FICTION:
© UWA Publishing/Hachette Australia/Bloomsbury Publishing/Penguin Random House
Hopeless Kingdom – Kgshak Akec
Told through the interchanging perspectives of Akita and her mother, Taresai, this coming-of-age story shines a light on the generational curses of trauma, complex family dynamics and how it feels to love someone unconditionally, even when it hurts. Hopeless Kingdom was shortlisted for the Miles Franklin Award in 2023. Read more about Kgshak Akec here.
Pomegranate and Fig – Zaheda Ghani
Ghani is not only a Leading Women Fund Ambassador, but also a talented writer. Her stunning debut novel tells the gripping story of three young Afghan people – Henna, her brother Hamid, and her husband Rahim – and vividly illuminates the disruption, displacement and tragedy of war.
A Long Petal of the Sea – Isabel Allende
From the author of The House of the Spirits, this epic novel follows two young people – Roser and Victor – as they flee the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War. Together with 2,000 other refugees, they embark on a ship to Chile. Spanning decades and continents, this story follows the unlikely partners as they embrace exile while Europe erupts in world war.
The Kite Runner – Khaled Hosseini
This unforgettable story of an unlikely friendship between a wealthy boy and the son of his father's servant has become a classic. The Kite Runner is a portrait of redemption, set against a backdrop of volatile events unfolding in Afghanistan.
NON-FICTION:
© Allen & Unwin/Bloomsbury Publishing/Pan Macmillan Australia/Hachette Australia
The Happiest Refugee – Anh Do
In this memoir, one of Australia’s best-loved entertainers recounts his perilous escape from Vietnam to Australia by boat. Anh Do displays his trademark optimism and humour while recounting his family’s tragedy and loss.
Freedom, Only Freedom – Behrouz Boochani
Kurdish-Iranian journalist Behrouz Boochani’s first book, No Friend but the Mountains, was written on a smuggled mobile phone while he was detained on Manus Island for six years. Boochani has now resettled in New Zealand and, with his latest book, Freedom, Only Freedom, reveals more about his harrowing incarceration.
Butterfly – Yusra Mardini
Yusra Mardini has been in the spotlight with The Swimmers, a Netflix film that tells her amazing story. You can learn more about Mardini in Butterfly, her extraordinary autobiography describing how she saved fellow refugees from drowning when fleeing across the Aegean Sea – and how she went on to become an Olympic swimmer.
We are Displaced: My Journey and Stories from Refugee Girls Around the World – Malala Yousafzai
Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai reflects on her own experience of being displaced while shining a light on the lives of other young girls forced to flee. Spanning places like Colombia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Syria, she introduces readers to the girls she has met through her advocacy for education – revealing real stories behind refugee statistics and headlines.
