The Journey

by Francesca Sanna
The Journey cover
Good Books rating 4.4
Children's Fiction
Technical:
  • ID: 817
  • Added: 2025-09-20
  • Updated: 2025-10-03
  • ISBN: 9781911171348
  • Published: 2016-01-01
  • Formats: 11
  • Reviews: 3
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Format • £14.24

The Journey is a beautifully illustrated and sensitive book that captures the emotional turmoil of leaving everything behind and seeking a new home. Told from the perspective of a young child, the story is based on real-life interactions with refugees, making it a deeply resonant and timely narrative. The book's vivid imagery and simple yet powerful text make it accessible and impactful for young readers, while also offering a profound message about resilience and hope. Francesca Sanna's work is not just a story but a mirror to the current global refugee crisis, offering a child's-eye view of the challenges and fears faced by those forced to flee their homes. The book's universal themes of courage, love, and the search for safety make it a compelling read for all ages.

Reviews
Tandem Bay Area · Azadeh Pourzand · 2018-03-14
impactful 4.20

The book's simple language and powerful illustrations make it accessible and impactful for young readers. The reviewer highlights the book's ability to tackle difficult subjects with truth and clarity.

Azadeh Pourzand reflects on how 'The Journey' uses simple language to make complex and difficult subjects accessible to children. She praises the illustrations for their ability to convey the family's emotions and the challenges they face, making the book both educational and emotionally resonant. Pourzand believes the book is an excellent tool for introducing young readers to the concept of refugees and the hardships they endure. She appreciates the book's honesty and clarity, which help to foster understanding and empathy among its readers.

Quick quotes

    The language of the book is simple, and likely comprehensible for children who are early readers.

    The illustrations of this book are powerful and convey the family's journey with emotional depth.

    This book tackles difficult subjects with truth and clarity.

Three Books a Night · 2016-11-09
heartbreaking 4.50

The book is described as beautiful, heartbreaking, and hopeful, highlighting its emotional impact and necessity. The illustrations and storytelling are praised for their ability to convey the family's journey and the challenges they face.

This reviewer found 'The Journey' to be a profoundly moving and visually stunning book. They emphasize its emotional depth, noting how it beautifully captures the heartbreaking yet hopeful experience of a family fleeing their home. The illustrations are particularly noteworthy for their ability to convey the family's fear and resilience without explicit detail. This reviewer believes the book is a necessary read, offering a poignant introduction to the refugee experience that is both accessible and impactful for young readers.

Quick quotes

    This book is beautiful, heartbreaking, hopeful, and necessary.

    Join me in admiring and pondering The Journey by Francesca Sanna.

    The illustrations are stunning and convey the family's fear and resilience.

Joy Murray · 2016-11-05
moving 4.50

The book is praised for its gorgeous and deeply moving portrayal of the refugee experience. The reviewer wishes it could be mandatory reading for everyone to raise awareness about the plight of war refugees.

In this review, the book is celebrated for its emotional resonance and beautiful illustrations. The reviewer is particularly struck by the way it portrays the refugee experience, finding it both deeply moving and educational. They express a strong desire for the book to be widely read, believing it could foster empathy and understanding about the challenges faced by refugees. The simplicity of the language makes it accessible to young readers, while the illustrations powerfully convey the family's journey and the hardships they encounter.

Quick quotes

    It's a gorgeous, deeply moving book.

    I found myself wishing that it could be mandatory reading for everyone.

    The plight of war refugees is presented with such clarity and emotion.

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