This book is not at all what I was expecting from a children's graphic novel. It's about a refugee girl fleeing her war torn country and what she encounters along the way. I won't give more spoilers than to say: this book (and especially the ending) is heartbreaking.

An interesting look into the life of a young Syrian girl who has to leave her village when war descends upon her and her family. This graphic novel uses images more than words to tell its story and does so with varying colors in order to differentiate between the present and flashbacks.

Woof.

Wow. Beautiful illustrations but that was really dark.

Beautiful illusrations, but such a sad story.

In this era where racism seems to have won, it is always a good idea to remember that it could have happened to us also.

In questo periodo storico in cui sembra che il razzismo abbia vinto, fa sempre bene ricordare che sarebbe potuto succedere a noi.

THANKS EDELWEISS FOR THE PREVIEW!

2nd review - January 2021
I'm still perplexed by this book - Ivy (youngest granddaughter) got it again from the library, and today we read it together. I warned her that it's very very sad, and told her that it's based on real and current events. As this child is very sensitive, that's where I left it.

I really like the illustrations - the colours in blue for now, and orange for the child's memories and simple but expressive pictures.

I wonder if Ivy will ask me to read it with her again . . .

1st review = October 2020
My youngest granddaughter got this from the library because her sister is called Zenobia. It didn't really get read and I didn't look at it until it was on its way being returned. This is a terribly sad account of a child refugee. She's told to model herself on the famous Queen Zenobia of Syria (1700 and some years ago), but for me that didn't work. Zenobia took on the Roman Empire but was ultimately defeated, so what's the message?

No words, just tears.