Alone The journeys of three young refugees

The author, who was born in a Thai refugee camp to Cambodian parents, recounts stories of three unaccompanied minors who sought asylum in Canada. In chapters that address reasons for leaving, saying goodbye, the journey, and adjustments to a new life, Tom profiles Afshin (an Iranian teen avoiding the draft), Alain (a Burundi youth whose mother died and whose father was imprisoned), and Patricia (a Ugandan whose identity as a lesbian makes her a target for discrimination). The teens' stories are told in simple language that conveys the physical dangers they faced as well as the emotional toll of being uprooted without parents to a completely different culture. Baillairgé's digital art employs bold colors (black, red, and green) and simple shapes that convey the settings, feelings, and differences between Canada and their countries of origin. Speech balloons and graphic panels are also used, personalizing the presentation. Based on Tom's documentary film of the same title and appended with updates about each of the profiled refugees, this will serve to humanize the circumstances of those seeking safe haven.

Adapting documentary film Seuls into an engrossing book for young readers, debut author Tom--who was born in a refugee camp in Thailand--follows three unaccompanied minors seeking asylum in Canada after fleeing their respective homelands. In each chapter, tight first-person narration alternates between the book's subjects, following second-person lines directed at readers ("Imagine that you're going away"). In Tehran, the parents of 13-year-old Afshin fear he'll be killed in the Iranian wars; when they send him away to keep him alive, he looks forward to the journey without realizing its long-term implications. In Burundi, 13-year-old Alain, the son of a political prisoner, escapes with his mother and brothers to Kenya, where a two-year delay and a tragic event leave the boys in limbo. For Patricia, a queer 16-year-old in Uganda, "if other people find out... it means prison and persecution for our family and even worse," but leaving means losing "the enveloping weight" of her mother's love. Baillairgé's digital illustrations employ a limited palette that reflects the flags of Burundi, Kenya, and Iran, and a stylized, minimalist approach hones three complex story lines down to a sharply rendered tale whose chapters trace experiences of "Leaving Everything Behind" through the subjects' developing "Hope for Tomorrow." A glossary concludes. Ages 8--12. (May)

In this novel based on the award-winning documentary Seuls, three young refugees journey to Canada. Fearless, bug-loving Afshin lives in war-torn Tehran, Iran. As Afshin approaches the age to enlist, his parents become fearful for him and decide to send him to a new country. Contemplative loner Alain, who lives in Bujumbura, Burundi, worries about his father, who's serving in the army, and savors moments with his beloved mother. After his father's sudden imprisonment, Alain and his family receive threats and must flee. Patricia yearns for a life where she can attend school and access the wealth she sees around her instead of helping her mother sell drinks to rich people in Kampala, Uganda. When she joins a softball team and falls in love with another girl, her parents send her away to escape the persecution that's sure to follow. Although their reason for leaving differs, each of the protagonists seeks asylum in Canada. With considerable care, Tom succinctly conveys not only their pain, but also their joy and hope. Their stories slowly come to life through alternating first-person perspectives. The author also makes use of the second person to reel readers in and immerse them in the characters' feelings of turmoil. Baillairgé's dramatic illustrations add depth to Tom's words, translated from French. Information on the real Afshin, Alain, and Patricia is appended. Quietly awe-inspiring. (glossary) (Fiction. 8-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.