Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
German journalist Von Welser brings the voices of asylum-seeking women to the forefront in this uneven call to relieve the humanitarian crisis of Syrians escaping dictatorship and war. Firsthand reporting from overcrowded refugee camps in Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey-as well as disembarkation points such as Lesbos and Lampedusa, where refugees frequently land following harrowing Mediterranean crossings in dangerous rafts-helps individualize the terror that marks millions of desperate journeys. The descriptions of the unique dangers that women face, including the constant risk of sexual assault by male smugglers, the female slave trade run by ISIS, and the economic burdens borne by women with children whose fathers have gone ahead to Europe, are stomach-turning and enraging. Unfortunately, von Welser's choppy text often suffers from inexplicable changes in tense, superfluous melodramatic statements ("How inhuman!" "But what a price!"), and an incongruous fixation with describing women as beautiful or pretty. Her photos are also too small and poorly reproduced to do justice to their subjects. Von Welser ends the book on a on a brighter note, pointing to individual examples of German citizens rejecting discrimination and welcoming newcomers, a model she hopes will be replicated across Europe. This timely cri de coeur is an important reminder of the global responsibility to the world's most vulnerable population. (Oct.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Review by Library Journal Review
During the refugee crisis in 2015, German journalist von Welser noticed that most Syrian refugees arriving in Europe were men. This drew her to visit refugee camps in Turkey, Jordan, and Lebanon to learn about Syrian women and children who had been left behind. The author starts by telling the story of Miryam, who fled Damascus with her five children. Interviews with other women in various refugee camps allows von Welser firsthand accounts of the appalling living conditions inside the camps, including the ongoing fears of rape, forced marriage, and human trafficking. Challenges facing the host countries, UN, and refugee aid workers are also discussed. Most of the refugees wish to settle in Germany, which drives the author's focus on German refugee policy, including a time line of refugee-related events from April 2015 through March 2016. Finally, she pleads with the international community to increase their donations to help refugees and to accept more refugees into their countries. VERDICT An unflinching look at the Syrian refugee crisis and the struggles facing women and children in search of a better life.-Rebekah Kati, Durham, NC © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Review by Library Journal Review
