The Bone Sparrow

Born in a refugee camp, Subhi has never seen the outside world. At night, he dreams that the sea finds its way to his tent, bringing with it unusual treasures. And one day it brings him Jimmie: an illiterate young girl who lives near the refugee camp.

The Bone Sparrow is a beautiful, heartbreaking, hopeful and deeply moving novel that explores a tragic and relevant topic with incredibly skill. Fraillon doesn't shy away from showing the bleakness of the refugee camp, but the novel is anything but. Subhi's irrepressible spirit brightens the camp, and the novel itself. Subhi and Jimmie's discovery of friendship is a joy to read, and Subhi's relationship with his older sister and closest friend in the camp are also wonderfully depicted.

The Bone Sparrow is one of those rare, special books that will break your heart with its honesty and beauty, but is ultimately hopeful and uplifting.

Winner of the CILIP Amnesty Honour 2017.