The Global Refugee Crisis: Fleeing Conflict and Violence

by Stephanie Sammartino McPherson

Overview

According to a UN tally, more than 1 million people fled violence and persecution in 2015. Of these, more than half were children. Thousands died along the way. The Syrian civil war as well as armed conflicts in Nigeria, Afghanistan, Yemen, Somalia, and the Central African Republic contributed to the continuing exodus of people into Europe and North America. Learn more about these modern mass exoduses, what is fueling them in the 21st century, how nations are addressing the crises, how refugees contribute to and strain communities, and what kinds of solutions could help. Along the way, you'll meet actual refugees and the people who are trying to help.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781541552630
Publisher:	Lerner Publishing Group
Publication date:	01/01/2019
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	128
File size:	33 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	13 - 17 Years

About the Author

Stephanie Sammartino McPherson wrote her first children's story in college. She enjoyed the process so much that she's never stopped writing. A former teacher and freelance newspaper writer, she has written more than thirty books and numerous magazine stories. Her recent books include Hothouse Earth: The Climate Crisis and the Importance of Carbon Neutrality, winner of the Green Earth Book Award for young adult nonfiction, and Breakthrough: Katalin Karikó and the mRNA Vaccine. Stephanie and her husband, Richard, live in Virginia.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 "We Want Freedom" 4

Chapter 2 Displaced by World Wars 15

Chapter 3 "Those Who seek Refuge Here in America" 26

Chapter 4 Twenty-First-Century Refugees 40

Chapter 5 Crowded Camps and Dangerous Journeys 50

Chapter 6 Welcome to the United States 65

Chapter 7 Asylum Seekers in the United States 80

Chapter 8 Handling the Crisis 96

Source Notes 108

Glossary 117

Selected Bibliography 120

Further Information 121

Index 124

Editorial Reviews

"[A] thoughtful and insightful book."—VOYA

From the Publisher

03/01/2019

Gr 7 Up—There are many reasons why refugees leave their countries and McPherson's offering presents them in clear and concise language. Although commonly associated with war, many refugees seeking asylum flee due to a variety of circumstances (climate, political, overcrowding, etc.) that are often overlooked. This work provides readers with an intercontinental, objective look at the environmental and human forces responsible for the current crisis. Informative, explanatory writing (synonyms and definitions are included for improved comprehension), interspersed with portraits of refugee rights activists, humanitarians, controversial contemporary issues, and first-hand accounts from refugees across the world provide readers with a thorough understanding of the issue presented. In addition, readers are guided through the migrant/refugee experience from the decision to leave, resettlement (and life) in refugee camps, and legal process for asylum seekers in the United States. VERDICT Recommended for school and public libraries serving tweens and teens.—Tamela Chambers, Chicago Public Library, IL

School Library Journal

2019-01-14

This ambitious narrative strives to create awareness of the plight of refugees through personal vignettes, salient historical context, and an overview of current worldwide hot spots.

Now-iconic photographs of Pope Francis, Justin Trudeau, Malala Yousafzai, and even a Sesame Street puppet punctuate the text, which is broken down into graphically inviting segments. The immediate launch into the subtopic of climate migration slows the momentum of the opening chapter. The wording of the brief section on Palestinian refugees opens with a patent falsehood—that nearly "one million Palestinians left their homes," implying a voluntary evacuation. In stark contrast to sections on other refugee groups which contain strongly worded information and evocative quotes from individuals about the suffering and oppression leading to their refugee status, the book is silent on corresponding events endured by Palestinians (who are also excluded from the index). The irony of the chapter title "Welcome to the United States" becomes obvious in the enumeration of the vetting process for potential refugees. Frequent in-line definitions of words disrupt the readability; expanding the glossary would have streamlined the narrative. Profiles of individual refugees, particularly success stories such as Rep. Ilhan Omar, put a human face on the subject. A map, infographic, and sidebars provide important contextual information. The book concludes with suggestions for ways readers can help refugees in their communities.

A timely and thought-provoking discussion of an urgent humanitarian issue despite the caveats noted. (source notes, glossary, bibliography, further information, index) (Nonfiction. 12-18)

Kirkus Reviews