By Becca
One aim of Talking Story is to provide resources to parents, educators, and librarians to facilitate discussions with kids on difficult topics. We hope this month's topic – Refugee Stories – does just that. Representation Matters. If you work with, or parent refugee children, we hope they find connection through our book recommendations. Or, if you are not familiar with the refugee experience, we hope these books help to build empathy and compassion for what many children around the world endure on a daily basis.
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Featured Author
V.T. Bidania
A Year Without Home
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I find verse novels to be emotionally powerful. When I decided to write one, I knew I’d be writing a sad, intense book. I just didn’t know how sad it would make me. By the time I finished A Year Without Home, the story of my family’s escape from Laos after the Vietnam War, I’d written some of the hardest scenes I’ve ever crafted. It changed me as a writer—and as a person.
This book is a fictionalized memoir. Some details were altered, but most of it is based on real events. All the emotions are true. Learning specific details about life during the war clarified moments I didn’t remember. I was only an infant, so my memories are based on stories I’d heard growing up.
Writing about these days made me feel as if I’d been transported back in time. It was as if I relived the entire history: breathing in the mountain air outside our house, sweltering in the refugee camps, swallowing the daily tears of homesickness. Working on this book taught me to be a stronger writer and gave me a greater understanding of what my family endured.
Since the book came out, readers have shared how much they relate to the main character’s heartache. They’ve expressed deeply connecting to the family’s pain of losing their home. Many have said this story made them sad but also gave them hope.
This is exactly how I feel. Writing this book was often heartbreaking, but the story gave me hope. Perhaps if you find A Year Without Home sad, it also can inspire you with hope for better days too - and a better world, something we desperately need right now.
A Year Without Home received starred reviews from School Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, and Booklist and was named a Gold Standard Selection by the Junior Library Guild. V.T. Bidania also writes the Astrid and Apollo and Extraordinary Eliana chapter books, the first children’s book series to feature Hmong American characters.
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Featured Illustrator:
Yasi and Mina's Pomegranate Tree
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Hi! I'm Serineh, an author-illustrator and surface pattern designer based in Yerevan, Armenia. After earning my MA in Graphic Design from the Art University of Tehran, I followed my dream of becoming a children’s book illustrator.
In addition to illustrating stories, I have a deep love for pattern making. Exploring how illustrations can repeat, dance, and tell new stories across fabric, paper, and everyday objects. My debut picture book as an illustrator, Yasi & Mina's Pomegranate Tree (Sleeping Bear Press), was published in April 2025.
Instagram: @seel.illustrations
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One Student Talks About Three Books
By Sophia
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Yasi and Mina’s Pomegranate Tree, is a memorable children’s book by Nikoo Yahyazadeh. This story revolves around the events of the 1980s Iraq-Iran war, in a child-friendly way that promotes the bonds of bravery and love even in the face of danger. Amidst the colorful streets in a big city, two friends are knit closely together through the roots of their flourishing pomegranate tree—even as the world around them changes. Yasi and Mina learn to value true friendships and determine that even if sad things happen, there is always hope for the future.
The YA novel Honor is an excellent example of historical fiction by Nataliia Mariichyn, Leon Buchwald, and Susan McClelland. The chapters move between both modern day and WWII brilliantly stringing together the past with the present. Two teens are connected through precious writing scattered on yellow papers. Though separated by years, the two are connected by their passion to stand up to injustice. With mysteries woven throughout the book and suspenseful dialogue around every corner, this is an inspiring novel that many will appreciate.
The picture book, Quiet Night, my Astronaut, is authored by Ukrainian writer Oksana Lushchevska, and illustrated by Kateryna Stepanishcheva. In this brief but touching story, readers are given a glimpse into what life during the start of the Russian-Ukrainian war was like through a child’s eyes. The main character, Ia, and her family struggle to stay afloat in the sea of chaos surrounding them. However, with the help of a wonderful community, they manage to encourage one another even during hard times. Through it all, Ia leans into her astronaut's comforting embrace, and holds onto the thought of a quiet night.
Sophia is a Christian homeschooler going into tenth grade. When not reading and writing, she enjoys sketching, biking, and playing soccer. She lives in South Carolina with her family of six, plus two cats.
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By Becca
After reading stories from refugess, readers might be interested in ways to help famlies transition to a new life in the US. Youth may research agencies in their own cities and states that serve refugees. After completing the research, you might write an article for your school or faith community newsletter and possibly start a donation drive.
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We love to hear from our readers!
You can contact us through the newsletter or individually at the following social media platforms.
We're also both available for school visits.
Rebecca W Wheeler
Carol Baldwin
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Does a Teen Reviewer
Live in Your House or
Attend Your School?
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We're always looking for teen or tween reviewers. If you know someone who might be interested in reading and writing a short synopsis of three books, please email us.
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To V.T. Bidania for being our author expert.
To Serineh Eliasian and Sleeping Bear Press for our illustration.
To Sophia D. for being our teen reviewer.
To Sleeping Bear Press for providing a copy of Yasi & Mina's Pomegranate Tree.
To Tilbury House Publishers for providing a copy of Quiet Night My Astronaut.
To Penguin Random House for providing a copy of A Year Without Home.
To Ninon Hentz for proofreading.
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Congratulations to our April book winners.
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Stacey Bartlett won Outside ABCs.
Danielle Hammelef won Heaven Jacobs Saves the Planet.
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If you're having trouble emailing us, try using CHROME browser.
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If you share TALKING STORY either on social media or via email, we will enter your name in our giveaway. Please complete this google form by August 3, indicate your book preference and we will add your name to the hat!
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Please share our books with your librarians!
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Did you know there is a TALKING STORY Facebook Group? We would love for you to participate and find out what other writers, educators, and librarians are saying.
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If you forward Talking Story to a friend or share the newsletter now, we will give you an extra chance to win a book. Please let Carol know what you do. |
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By: Nikoo Yahyazadeh
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By Carol
Becca and I like to use this column to share about our books and writing life. At first, I didn't think I had anything to say about refugees. Then I realized that my work-in-progress, OUT OF THE FLAME, includes a refugee story. My two male protagonists are separated by 150 years but both work in glass factories. One of them, Noah Wheeler, lives in mid-18th century Philadelphia. He left England as an orphan with the hope of building a new life in America. |
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BOOKS FOR YOUNGER READERS
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BOOKS FOR MIDDLE GRADES and OLDER READERS
by Daniel Nayeri
by Alan Gratz |
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