Welcome to Litsy!

This was an eye opening and engaging first hand account of living in Iraq and Syria and emigrating to Canada from the perspective of a 10 yr old boy. A teacher helped him tell his story and it has since become a play

And by cool I obviously mean books

Learned about something I didn‘t think about with refugees – how lonely it is. At least for Bakr and his family; the extended family did not come with them to Canada, and they had such a large space that they weren‘t used to. His friends (and cousins) were still back in Syria, and it was (of course) very difficult for them all with the language barrier when they first arrived.

Young Abu Bakr tells the story of his family‘s journey from Iraq to Syria to Canada and the homes they strive to make in each place.

Read April 14-18
Book 22/55

Ziya Tong on #CanadaReads: “one of the most powerful pieces of graffiti I‘ve seen said ‘Homes: do you remember when we were still human?‘”

#BigLibraryRead #BLR2019

Thank you to all who participated in this month‘s Big Library Read!

See ya next time for another selection worthy of discussion.

#BigLibraryRead #BLR2019

Question 10: while this is Abu Bakr‘s story, written from his point of view, it is authored by Winnie Yeung. What responsibilities does Winnie have, as an author of creative non-fiction, to honor Bakr‘s voice?

This was an excellent book. It is the story of Abu Bakr and his family who moved to Syria from Iraq for a better life and eventually came to Canada as refugees as life in Syria became more and more dangerous. This book blends the atrocities of war with sweet recollections of friendship and family love. It is a book that really humanizes refugees and the hugely difficult decisions they have to make to stay safe. Highly recommend!

#BigLibraryRead #BLR2019

Question 9: one of the main reasons this book was written was to build empathy. What parts of Abu Bakr‘s journey connects to a life story of your own?

This is the current #BigLibraryRead. I‘m glad I got news of it in time to enjoy it. Eye-opening, and thought provoking story of a loving family able to survive and finally leave the place of a hateful war. #BLR #LibraryEBook

#BigLibraryRead #BLR19

Question 8: what questions does this book raise about newcomers in a society? Do you think this book will change your impression of the people in your own community?

#BigLibraryRead #BLR2019

Question 7: it seems like many countries and communities are dealing with political controversy over welcoming immigrants and refugees into their society. How has this book affected the way you view this issue?

Next up!

Quotes like this that make you stop and read them a few times...happened frequently in “Homes,” and I hope this young man continues to adjust to his life here in Canada. Great insight into what some of my learners have gone through, and what they are currently going through.

#BigLibraryRead #BLR2019

Question 6: as Abu Bakr and his family began to settle into their new life in Canada they faced lots of challenges, including many conflicting emotions. What parts of this journey were predictable or surprising to you?

#biglibraryread

#BigLibraryRead #BLR2019

Question 5: were you frustrated by any of the decisions that Abu Bakr‘s immediate or extended family made?

#BigLibraryRead #BLR2019

Question 4: What were/are some of the images from the book that stick in your mind?

Global ebook Club
Big Library Read (#BLR), facilitated by OverDrive, is a reading program through your library that connects readers around the world with the same ebook at the same time without any wait lists or holds.

All you need is a library card and either the Libby or the Overdrive App. ✌🏼❤️📚

I got my copy ten minutes ago! Join me in reading this creative non-fiction story. It is just 163 pages. #BigLibraryRead

#BigLibraryRead #BLR2019

Question 3: which any characters - other than Abu Bakr - did you relate to most?

I‘m glad I picked up this fairly quick read. Bakr‘s story is simply told, but it is also a powerful story of the strength and resiliency of a family. I appreciate a personal perspective on the experiences of a family that lived in and left Syria for a new life in Canada.

Although I only read for a few hours yesterday evening, this makes 2 books completed for #DeweysReadathon. #readathon

#BigLibraryRead #ReadtheWorld #ReadingtheWorld Syria

I have a profound respect for Abu Bakr‘s father who DID ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING he could to keep the family together and bring everyone to safety. His father to me is a HERO.

I‘m glad that there are people like Ms Yeung, Ms Mayer and Ms Maggie who help people settle in and adjust. These kind hearted people who volunteer and take their time to help are truly the gentle warriors of humankind.

#biglibraryread

#BigLibraryRead #BLR2019

2: What surprised you about the descriptions of growing up in a war zone?

#BigLibraryRead #BLR2019

Question 1: In three words or less, what is the book about?

Just snagged a copy of the latest #BigLibraryRead

Looking forward to the discussion!!

BIG LIBRARY READ! I‘m an ESL instructor and most of my learners are from Syria, so I‘m very interested to hear this young man‘s account.

#BigLibraryRead #BLR2019

Did you know that not only can libraries host the Big Library Read, but schools can too! Has you library or school hosted this event?

#currentlyreading this book and participating in the #biglibraryread 🥰 is anyone else reading this?

#BigLibraryRead #BLR2019

What rating and review will you give Homes?

I guess you‘ll just have to get your FREE ebook copy via OverDrive and read it!!!

If you have access to Overdrive or Libby through your library, join me in the Big Library Read!

#BigLibraryRead #BLR2019

Did you know you could win a Kobo Aura H2O by participating in the Big Library Read?

Official Rules: https://biglibraryread.com/terms-conditions/

#BigLibraryRead #BLR2019

Day 1

Here‘s a letter from the author, Winnie Yeung:
https://biglibraryread.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/April_2019-_BLR_Letter-fro...

#BigLibraryRead #BLR2019

This is the hero of the story!

Are you ready to snag your ebook copy via OverDrive? The Big Library Read starts tomorrow, April 1-15!

Repost for @CrowCAH :
#BigLibraryRead #BLR2019

The Big Library Read is returning next month, April 1-15, with Homes: A Refugee Story. (The tagged book)
I‘ll be your host by posting discussion questions for all to chime in with their viewpoints.
I look forward to hearing what you have to say!

https://biglibraryread.com/

(Note: I have not read the book, but wanted to have a platform for discussion should any Littens want to participate.)

#BigLibraryRead #BLR2019

Hello All!
The Big Library Read is returning next month, April 1-15, with Homes: A Refugee Story. (The tagged book)
I‘ll be your host by posting discussion questions for all to chime in with their viewpoints.
I look forward to hearing what you have to say!

https://biglibraryread.com/

(Note: I have not read the book, but wanted to have a platform for discussion should any Littens want to participate.)

Homes is the story of the al Rabeeah family, as told by one of the children, Abu Bakr, and written by his ESL teacher, Winnie Yeung. Bakr was only 10 when violence erupted around him, and the book effortlessly contrasts the horrors of war with the normalcy of growing up. The story is simply told, making it accessible to all. Stories like this are so necessary, especially as anti-immigrant sentiments are on the rise. #CanadaReads2019

Homes is told through the five senses--a portrait of everyday life in war-torn Syria made tangibly vivid and immediate. What strikes also is how a child's drive to live his world through the basic need to play can ground the events of war in the normality of experience at the same time as it frames the surreality of brutal violence. Finally, this book reminds us not to turn our backs on refugees in the age of Trump. #canadareads #1bk2moveus

Unpopular opinion alert: this did not work for me. There wasn‘t enough awareness in it - like The Woo Woo, I feel like it would‘ve been better if the author had written it later in life with some time to reflect and make connections to his place in the bigger scheme of things. I can see it working as a way to give a face to refugees, but otherwise...

Winnie Yeung nails the young voice in this as-told-to memoir, which she wrote as a gift to her refugee student, Abu Bakr al Rabeeah. Bakr has lived through awful things, but he and Yeung have produced a balanced, engaging, and readable book that illuminates his everyday life in Syria right alongside the horrors of the civil war. I hope it makes its way into a ton of schools, as it's bound to resonate as strongly with kids as adults. #CanadaReads

Bakr grows up in war torn countries, before landing in a safe place, that is completely foreign to him. Bakr and his family are just like all of us. All they want is to feel safe while going about their daily business. This book will awaken your empathy for the refugees landing in our country. It should become a teaching tool in Canadian classrooms.
#CanadaReads2019

The tween is working on some math. I am digging into the Canada Reads books. #CanadaReads2019

A beautiful and profound story that captures the reality of the refugee experience. Intertwining the experience of family, war, living in community, and the challenges with starting over this story captures the realities of love mixed with the reality of trauma telling a story of resilience.