Refugees often risk their lives in search of asylum, facing the possibilty of encountering robbers, traffickers, assailants, and succumbing to thirst, starvation, exhaustion, or illness. There's also the chance of shots fired by border patrol officers or, in the case of The Unwanted: Stories of the Syrian Refugees, regime soldiers. Why would people flee their homes with their loved ones, and little more than the clothes on their backs, despite these dangers? In this touching graphic novel, award-winning writer-illustrator Don Brown answers that question.

As disturbing images appear on the news of children and their families who lost their lives while running from troubling conditions—including a three-year-old Syrian boy—The Unwanted helps to put things into perspective, serving as a reminder of the ugly side of human nature during war, and the innocence of those caught in the crossfire.

Approach to Illustration

The first few pages, are penned and watercolor images of a rather peaceful Syria during Spring 2011. A little girl looks toward the reader, walking with a smile on her face and a bouquet of flowers in her hands. All is right in her world. Had it not been for the picture of a woman covering her sad visage on the preceding page or the gray, melancholic book cover featuring men, women, and children held behind a fence, we would have no clue as to what is to come.

As the pages turn, we are suddenly met with drawings of violence from the regime toward protesters, mass chaos, and implicated merciless torture and executions. Fortunately for disconcerted readers, Brown spares us from what could have been far more graphic content in his illustrations, while making it clear through the use of straightforward narrative that exploitation and death for even the most vulnerable was, and is, fair game during this Syrian civil war.

Writing Style

Don Brown supplements the usual graphic novel elements of box frames and speech bubbles with a narrator who explains the history behind the images, leading up to what will soon be an unrecognizable Syria. Although speech bubbles are often used to display dialogue among characters in graphic novels, The Unwanted is unique in that the characters' dialogue is directed toward us, the readers. Unlike moments where we may have simply turned off the television during disturbing subject matter on the war in Syria, this person-to-reader storytelling approach makes us feel obligated not only to stop and listen—with compassion and respect—to the individual’s story, but also to connect long enough to understand this goes beyond story. This is someone’s frightening reality. We ask "What if my family and I were in that situation?”

Brown is incredibly skilled at conveying how the world’s sense of humanity is at stake during civil wars from the perspective of the people fleeing, yet he also provides other perspectives: Of the countries receiving refugees, of those who are uncomfortable with a mass exodus of migrants arriving in their country. At the end of The Unwanted, Brown states he did not want politics or religion to be prioritized in the book. He does a relatively good job steering clear of those subjects by simply focusing on the of the people—migrants, supporters, and adversaries (although we do see a political cameo or two.) This task is no easy feat for a compassionate writer, but showing the audience the world from different vantage points is commendable, eye-opening, and thought-provoking.

Librarian's Thoughts

Don Brown makes wonderful use of his talents and resources with The Unwanted. When you look at the book's bibliography, and the long list of articles Brown used for research, it's apparent that he put a lot of thought into the messages and stories he wanted to convey. (Be sure to look up the headlines he mentions, they are quite informative).  When you learn about his visits to various refugee camp throughout Greece in 2017, you understand his level of commitment to this journalistic project and can appreciate the book that much more.

One thing I really admire about Brown's approach is that he does not insult the reader’s intelligence or imagination by displaying extremely disturbing images. Instead, he grants us the freedom to take in difficult information in a delicate manner, in our own emotional way, while still driving home the seriousness of the events. His illustrations give a face to the voices quoted in first-hand account interviews featured in the media.

The kind of violence and horror that occurred during the Syrian massacre that began in 2010, and that continues, could have easily been exploited with the use of comic book-like action sequences and gore for the sake of gaining more attention and achieveing shock value. Instead, Don Brown exercises his power with a pen, as a writer and an illustrator, to convey a strong sense of uncompromising reverence for the victims and the readers.

Recommended Use

As a Young Adult graphic novel, The Unwanted is an ideal book to inspire discussion about the topic of immigration, as immigration crises are an ongoing international concern. The book can be a useful tool to teach older, more mature children or students (ages 13+) about how atrocities can lead to displacement, encouraging a sense of empathy and inspiration to help others in need. Perhaps The Unwanted can also help build critical thinking skills by having readers brainstorm solutions to the financial or logistical problems that arise in times of mass migration, as touched upon by the storyline (You never know, it could spark the politician or activist side of a student!) Adults can also refer toThe Unwanted to discuss their personal opinions on this sensitive topic (with kindness and deference, of course). How would you use this book? Let us know in the comments section below. 

Check out other books by Don Brown in the NYPL catalog, including nonfiction for both children and adults, and historical fiction.

Drowned City: Hurricane Katrina & New Orleans

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Great American Dust Bowl

 

 

 

 

 

America Is Under Attack

 

 

 

 

 

Read about other stories of courage:
The Librarian of Auschwitz
March Forward, Girl