Out of Iraq: Refugees' Stories in Words, Paintings, and Music

Readers seeking a firsthand perspective on the war in Iraq should welcome Wilkes's book, which provides an concise overview of events before and during the invasion, interspersed with first-person narratives of Iraqi refugees, gathered while Wilkes worked with the United Nations Refugee Agency in Syria. A child named Ahmed shares his memories of fleeing Iraq: "We did not want to leave our home; we stayed even though a simple visit to the market with my father often involved gunfire and the sounds of rockets." Another child explains how his family was torn apart because one parent is Shiite, the other Sunni. Moving photographs and artwork, quotations from political figures, and accessible language form a harrowing window into lives rarely paid witness. Ages 11–up. (Nov.)