5 books by refugee authors
Books open our worlds to new experiences. One way to support refugees is learning about and understanding their stories.
Many refugees have endured significant hardships, fleeing their homes in search of safety and stability. We've compiled a list of books by refugee authors, offering you the opportunity to read the story in their words and gain insight into their experiences.
1. The Ungrateful Refugee
by Dina Nayeri
"The Ungrateful Refugee" is a personal memoir by Dina Nayeri, telling her story of fleeing Iran as a child. Throughout the memoir, Nayeri intertwines the experiences of other refugees, exploring the themes of displacement and belonging.
2. We are Displaced: My Journey and Stories from Refugee Girls Around the World
by Malala Yousafzai
In this book, Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai shares her experience as a Pakistani refugee. She highlights narratives of other refugee girls and their experiences, showing the resilience and strength that come through displacement.
3. Butterfly
by Yusra Mardini
Yursa Mardini escaped a war-torn Syria by sea. Her personal memoir tells the story of her journey to becoming a swimmer in the 2016 Olympics.
4. A Fort of Nine Towers
by Qais Akbar Omar
This memoir is the experience of Afghan author Qais Akbar Omar as a child in Afghanistan during the rise of the Taliban. It provides his personal perspective of the country’s history.
5. The Lightless Sky
by Gulwali Passarlay
The Lightless Sky is Gulwali Passarlay’s personal account of fleeing Afghanistan, a 12-year-old boy traveling alone in search of safety.
