TAKING FLIGHT

A portrait of the refugee experience, seen through the eyes of children.

Leaving a highland home in Tibet, a youngster hugs a grandmother goodbye. A Syrian child bids community members goodbye and sets out through fields of cotton. A third child flees a Ukrainian city amid the “loud BOOMS of war.” For each, the journey away from home is hard and exhausting. All find themselves at refugee camps, and when they finally leave, they’re filled with hope and relief—but also fear. The three travel to the same new country (which goes unnamed); differences are everywhere in this new land. “Still, you gather up your courage,” and isn’t long before they find familiarity and belonging. Classmates share smiles, laughs, and even a snack; recess and play make connections. “Day by day, little by little… / the new becomes known.” Writing in second person, directly addressing the displaced children, Sheth compassionately acknowledges the heartbreak they’ve endured and underscores their resilience. Carozzi’s soft and detailed digitally enhanced graphite illustrations evoke the tenderness of Sheth’s text. Shifting perspectives through wide shots and close-ups reinforce an idea of shared and personal experiences. The final spread of a child swinging against a blue sky (with the help of another, as shown on the previous page) emphasizes the hope and community support that are so crucial as young refugees build new lives.

Comforting and uplifting.