Welcome to Nowhere

by Elizabeth Laird, Lucy Eldridge (Illustrator), Maria Brzozowska (Illustrator)

Overview

Welcome to Nowhere is a powerful and beautifully written story about the life of one family caught up in civil war by the award-winning author Elizabeth Laird, shortlisted for the Scottish Teen Book Award and winner of the UKLA Book Award.

Twelve-year-old Omar and his brothers and sisters were born and raised in the beautiful and bustling city of Bosra, Syria. Omar doesn't care about politics - all he wants is to grow up to become a successful businessman who will take the world by storm. But when his clever older brother, Musa, gets mixed up with some young political activists, everything changes . . .

Before long, bombs are falling, people are dying, and Omar and his family have no choice but to flee their home with only what they can carry. Yet no matter how far they run, the shadow of war follows them - until they have no other choice than to attempt the dangerous journey to escape their homeland altogether. But where do you go when you can't go home?

'[Sings] with truth' - The Times

'A muscular, moving, thought-provoking book' - Guardian

'Humane and empathetic . . . an effective call to action' - The Sunday Times

'Powerful, heart-breaking and compelling' - Scotsman

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781509840489
Publisher:	Pan Macmillan
Publication date:	01/12/2017
Series:	Aziza's Secret Fairy Door , #85
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	304
File size:	5 MB
Age Range:	9 - 11 Years

About the Author

Elizabeth Laird is the multi-award-winning author of several much-loved children's books, including The Garbage King, The Prince Who Walked with Lions and The Fastest Boy in the World. She has been shortlisted for the prestigious CILIP Carnegie Medal six times. She lives in Britain now, but still likes to travel as much as she can.
Elizabeth Laird is the multi-award-winning author of several much-loved children's books including The Garbage King, The Fastest Boy in the World and Dindy and the Elephant. She has been shortlisted for the prestigious Carnegie Medal six times. She lives in Britain now, but still likes to travel as much as she can.
Lucy Eldridge is a traditional artist who works primarily in watercolor and gouache to create beautiful, whimsical illustrations. Lucy illustrated the middle-grade novel Welcome to Nowhere by Elizabeth Laird and her first picture book, If A Horse Had Words, by Kelly Cooper. She is based in Brighton, UK.

Editorial Reviews

07/08/2024

This far-reaching novel by Laird (The Misunderstandings of Charity Brown) follows one family through the early years of the Syrian civil war, beginning in March 2011. Narrated in an emotionally honest voice by Omar—the middle child of five—the story opens when he is 12 and living in comfort in Bosra, where his father is a government employee. When war breaks out, life grows increasingly perilous. The family decamps to relatives’ homes—first a flat in Daara, then a farm in the countryside—before making a terrifying border crossing into Jordan, where they settle in the Za’atari refugee camp. Each character is imbued with individuality, particularly Omar’s oldest sister Eman, an aspiring teacher, and older brother Musa, who refuses to let bullying surrounding his cerebral palsy affect his intellectual acuity or education—or keep him from becoming involved in dangerous underground politics. Personal dynamics amid steadily deteriorating conditions, especially the thorny yet loving sibling relations, are strongly depicted. While the final events that move the narrative toward its optimistic closing feel somewhat cursory, thorough depictions of each phase of the family’s saga are immersive. Moody gray toned drawings by Eldridge (If a Horse Had Words) enhance the story’s grim ambiance; Laird’s opening and closing notes provide historical and personal context. Ages 9–11. (Aug.)

Publishers Weekly

“[H]umane and empathetic . . . Not only eye-opening, important and topical, but a vivid, emotionally involving, nail-biting read . . .an effective call to action.” —Nicolette Jones, The Sunday Times Children's Book of the Week

“A muscular, moving, thought-provoking book from an award-winning writer” —Imogen Russell Williams, Guardian

“[I]n bringing the fate of the victims of the Syrian conflict to life for young readers, both to inform and encourage sympathy and understanding, it is much to be admired.” —Books for Keeps

“An important story for our time” —Scottish Book Trust

“Not only does it explain how the war in Syria began in as clear a way as I have ever heard but [Elizabeth Laird] makes her characters lovable, loathable - and believable. They are children of war but not defined by it . . . fascinating and sing[s] with truth.” —Alex O'Connell, The Times Children's Book of the Week

“This powerful, dramatic story, poignantly illustrates how war affects ordinary people” —Bookseller

“Deeply moving . . . you can always count on Elizabeth Laird to write fearlessly but with compassion and this story will give readers plenty to think about” —Bookbag

“A poignant, special book which is beautifully written. Essential reading.” —ReadingZone

“Powerful, heart-breaking and compelling” —The Scotsman

From the Publisher

2024-07-04
Omar and his family are forced to flee their home and navigate the treacherous landscape of war-torn Syria.

The story begins in Bosra, a vibrant city where witty and charming 12-year-old Omar enjoys a relatively comfortable life with his parents and siblings. He dislikes school and daydreams of becoming a successful businessman. But Omar’s world is turned upside down as political unrest spreads across the country. When a bomb destroys his family’s apartment, they are forced to leave, marking the start of their painful journey as refugees. They first seek safety with relatives in a village, but trouble follows them as Musa, Omar’s older brother who has cerebral palsy, starts filming the political protests. The family decides to make the dangerous journey to Jordan, where they settle in the Za’atari refugee camp, a place Omar finds desperately boring. Their new lives are unforgiving and dehumanizing, and resources are scarce, but Omar and his family make the best of what they have. Laird’s empathetic storytelling, supported by Eldridge’s evocative art, is accessible and inviting for a wide range of readers. The character development is particularly noteworthy: Omar’s growth from a carefree boy to a responsible young adult is believable and inspiring, and he never loses his charm. Cultural and historical details provide insights into Syria and its people.

A compassionate, heart-wrenching work that helps readers understand the profound losses people suffer during wartime. (foreword, map, author’s note, organizations)(Fiction. 9-12)

Kirkus Reviews