cbr17bingo Diaspora (this could be culture, but he upheaval of the Syrian people unfortunately fits.)
Sadly, this book, Muhammad Najem, War Reporter: How One Boy Put the Spotlight on Syria, is nonfiction. I say sadly as nobody, let alone children and teenagers should have to go through what he did. Muhammad Najem, Nora Neus and Julie Robine gathered their talents and told the story of Muhammad as he risked not only his life, but the lives of his family, friends and neighbors. He wanted to be like his father and learn the stories that people have, because like his father said, everyone has a story to tell and it is good to listen and help get that message out.
When Muhammad decides that he wants to do something instead of keep hiding in basements and underground, he decides to post online. But this is not the simple online post of a bored teen, something to indulge their egos, but of a young man who is trying to save lives. It is also the opportunity for his government to find him and try to kill him as they do not want the truth of what is happening coming out. And if a few millions die in the process? Well the innocent bystanders be dam*ed. Muhammad Najem wanted to tell his country’s story. He took to the streets, dodged bombs, rubble, planes, secret police and watched as family and friends tried to survive, but more often than not, they died.
This graphic novel is edgy and real, yet it tells things in a non-gratuitous manner, and allows for hope. This is aided by the illustrations that have the facts out front, but done in a way that colors and details do not get “ugly.” Yes, it might be a smidgen romantic at times, but it allows for the reader to not be slapped by the horrors. Neus is a reporter that learned of Muhammad via his posts and how slowly the world became away because of them, but she would help him get his story to go much farther as she would learn (as we the reader does) of his journey from Syria to Turkey. It mixes historical and (then) current events allowing anyone who reads it, an introduction to the world the Syria people lived for decades.