Books About Refugees · 110 titles considered

The Best Refugees Books for Kids

Looking for excellent children's books about refugees? This collection brings together Bookroo's highest-rated and most useful picks in one place.

Start with our editorial favorites, then browse recommendations organized by reading stage to find the right book for your reader.

The Shortlist

Our 10 Favorite Books About Refugees

Sale price

$1697

Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 2017

Refugee

By Alan Gratz

Three children flee their war-torn homes, facing perilous journeys for a chance at refuge and hope.

The E.B. White Read Aloud Honor (2018)Cybils Award (2017)Sydney Taylor Book Award (2018)

338 pages· 65,632 words· Est. 7.5 hour read

7.0/7 Bookroo experts·4.4/5 Goodreads · 86,284 ratings

$17.99Save 6%

Summary: Josef, Isabel, and Mahmoud are separated by time and place, yet united by their desperate quests for safety. Josef flees Nazi Germany, Isabel escapes Cuba's turmoil, and Mahmoud braves Syria's chaos. Each faces life-threatening challenges—drownings, bombings, betrayals—on their harrowing journeys. As they seek refuge, their stories intertwine in unexpected ways, revealing the enduring power of hope and survival. Will they find the sanctuary they seek, or will the dangers prove insurmountable? Discover the connections that bind their fates in this gripping tale of courage and resilience.

Sale price

$958

Chapter Book · Ages 10–12 · 2010

A Long Walk to Water

By Linda Sue Park

Two Sudanese children face perilous journeys for survival and hope.

Jane Addams Children's Book Award (2011)

128 pages· 20,925 words· Est. 2.5 hour read

7.0/7 Bookroo experts·4.3/5 Goodreads · 107,729 ratings

$9.99Save 4%

Summary: In Sudan, Nya walks hours daily for water in 2008, while Salva, a 'lost boy' in 1985, treks across Africa seeking safety. Their paths, fraught with danger from rebels and wildlife, eventually converge in a surprising, life-changing encounter. How will their stories of endurance and hope intertwine?

Sale price

$1899

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2019

Other Words for Home

By Jasmine Warga

A girl leaves Syria for America, facing new challenges and discovering herself.

Newbery Honor (2020)Arab American Book Honor (2020)

342 pages· 30,125 words· Est. 4 hour read

5.8/7 Bookroo experts·4.4/5 Goodreads · 35,393 ratings

$19.99Save 5%

Summary: Jude's world shifts when she leaves Syria for Cincinnati, leaving family behind. Navigating a new culture, she grapples with her identity as 'Middle Eastern' and the chaos of American life. Amidst the noise, Jude finds unexpected friendships and a chance to shine in a school musical. Can she find a place where she truly belongs?

Sale price

$1899

Chapter Book · Ages 10–13 · 2020

Everything Sad Is Untrue

By Daniel Nayeri

A refugee boy spins tales to claim his truth in a skeptical classroom.

Michael L. Printz Award (2021)

356 pages· 85,022 words· Est. 9.5 hour read

4.3/5 Goodreads · 45,806 ratings

$19.99Save 5%

Summary: In an Oklahoma classroom, Khosrou, known as Daniel, shares his family's harrowing escape from Iran. His classmates doubt him, but his stories weave a tapestry of ancient Persian history and personal resilience. As he recounts their flight from the secret police and life in refugee camps, Daniel fights to be believed. Can his tales, like Scheherazade's, save him and reveal the truth?

Graphic Nov.

Sale price

$1348

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2020

When Stars Are Scattered

By Victoria Jamieson (Author/Illustrator), Omar Mohamed, Iman Geddy (Illustrator)

A refugee boy faces a choice: education or staying with his brother.

National Book Award for Young People's Literature Finalist (2020)Cybils Award (2020)Odyssey Honor (2021)Schneider Family Book Honor (2021)

264 pages· 27,175 words· Est. 5 hour read

4.6/5 Goodreads · 33,908 ratings

$13.99Save 4%

Summary: In a Kenyan refugee camp, Omar dreams of a better future. When offered a chance to attend school, he faces a heart-wrenching decision: pursue education or stay with his nonverbal brother, Hassan. Amidst hardship, Omar must navigate hope and sacrifice, striving to create a sense of family and belonging in a world of uncertainty. Will he seize the opportunity to change their lives, or will the bond with his brother hold him back? This poignant graphic novel explores resilience and the quest for a brighter tomorrow.

Sale price

$858

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2018

The Night Diary

By Veera Hiranandani

A young girl navigates a divided land, seeking identity and hope amidst India's partition.

Newbery Honor (2019)Jane Addams Children's Book Honor (2019)

304 pages· 50,124 words· Est. 7 hour read

4.2/5 Goodreads · 21,208 ratings

$8.99Save 5%

Summary: In 1947, as India splits into two nations, twelve-year-old Nisha, half-Hindu and half-Muslim, becomes a refugee. Her family flees their home in Pakistan, embarking on a perilous journey to find safety. Through letters to her deceased mother, Nisha grapples with her fractured identity and the chaos around her. Can she find a place to belong in a world torn apart? The Night Diary is a poignant tale of resilience and the search for home in a divided land.

Sale price

$1597

Chapter Book · Ages 10–14 · 2018

The Eleventh Trade

By Alyssa Hollingsworth

A boy must trade up from a keychain to reclaim his grandfather's stolen instrument.

304 pages· 53,985 words· Est. 6 hour read

4.4/5 Goodreads · 376 ratings

$16.99Save 6%

Summary: Sami, a young refugee, faces a daunting challenge when his grandfather's cherished rebab is stolen. With only a keychain and a dream, he embarks on a daring quest to trade up to $700. Each trade brings him closer to reclaiming the instrument and finding his place in a new world. Can Sami navigate the complexities of friendship and fear to achieve the impossible? Discover the heartwarming journey of resilience and hope in 'The Eleventh Trade.'

Sale price

$958

Chapter Book · Ages 10–13 · 2009

An Elephant in the Garden

By Michael Morpurgo

A family flees a bombed city with an elephant, facing perilous challenges and unexpected allies.

224 pages· 36,004 words· Est. 4 hour read

4.2/5 Goodreads · 13,419 ratings

$9.99Save 4%

Summary: In a war-torn city, Lizzie, Karl, and their mother face an impossible choice: save Marlene, an orphaned elephant, or leave her to certain death. As bombs fall, they embark on a perilous journey, Marlene in tow, through a landscape fraught with danger. Along the way, they encounter Peter, a daring Canadian navigator, who risks everything to help them. Can this unlikely group of survivors find safety and hope amidst chaos? Discover a tale of courage, compassion, and the extraordinary bond between humans and animals.

Sale price

$3324

Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 2014

The Red Pencil

By Andrea Davis Pinkney, Shane W. Evans (Illustrator)

A young girl flees her ravaged village, finding hope in a red pencil.

336 pages· 20,420 words· Est. 2.5 hour read

3.9/5 Goodreads · 7,475 ratings

$34.99Save 5%

Summary: Amira dreams of school, but her Sudanese village is destroyed by the Janjaweed. Forced to flee, she embarks on a perilous journey to a refugee camp. Amidst the hardship, a red pencil ignites her imagination, offering a glimmer of hope and new possibilities. Can Amira find the strength to rebuild her life from the ashes of her past?

Sale price

$674

Chapter Book · Ages 8–11 · 2006

Drita, My Homegirl

By Jenny Lombard

A new life in America tests Drita's resilience and sparks an unexpected friendship across cultural divides.

144 pages· 25,835 words· Est. 3.5 hour read

3.9/5 Goodreads · 1,277 ratings

$6.99Save 4%

Summary: Drita, a ten-year-old from Kosovo, faces the challenge of adapting to life in America without knowing English. Her struggle to fit in at school is complicated by Maxie, a popular classmate who initially ignores her. When a class project forces them together, tensions rise, but an unexpected friendship begins to form. Can Drita and Maxie bridge their cultural differences and find common ground? Discover how friendship can blossom in the most unlikely circumstances, offering hope and understanding in a new world.

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Refugees Picture Books

Illustrated read-alouds about refugees for preschool and elementary-age readers.

Sale price

$1599

Refuge

Ages 4–8 · 2015

A family flees through the desert, seeking refuge from danger.

Sale price

$2199

How I Learned Geography

Ages 4–7 · 2008

A boy discovers a map's power to nourish his imagination beyond hunger.

Sale price

$1799

Flight for Freedom

Ages 5–8 · 2019

A family risks all to escape East Germany in a homemade balloon.

Sale price

$1699

The Day War Came

Ages 5–8 · 2018

A child's world shatters as war arrives, leaving her to seek hope in a foreign land.

Sale price

$1999

Stars of the Night

Ages 7–11 · 2023

Children escape war-torn Prague, seeking safety and uncover a hero's identity decades later.

Sale price

$1700

Gleam and Glow

Ages 4–7 · 2001

A family flees war, leaving behind everything, hoping for a reunion and a miracle.

Sale price

$2095

Brothers in Hope

Ages 7–9 · 2005

A young boy leads a perilous journey across war-torn lands, seeking safety and hope.

Sale price

$1799

Zahra's Blessing

Ages 4–9 · 2022

A girl's Ramadan wish leads to unexpected blessings at a shelter.

Sale price

$1899

The Treasure Box

Ages 5–8 · 2013

A boy flees war with a mysterious treasure, seeking hope and survival.

Sale price

$1395

My Beautiful Birds

Ages 6–10 · 2017

A boy's journey from war-torn Syria to healing, guided by unexpected feathered friends.

Sale price

$1799

Kind

Ages 3–5 · 2019

Can kindness change the world? Discover how simple acts make a big impact.

Sale price

$1899

Wishes

Ages 4–8 · 2021

A young girl faces a life-changing journey across the sea in search of a new home.

View all refugees picture books

Browse by age

Refugees Chapter Books & Middle Grade

Longer stories about refugees for developing and independent readers.

Sale price

$899

Lily's Crossing

Ages 9–12 · 1997

A summer friendship hides secrets that could change lives during World War II.

Sale price

$999

Samira Surfs

Ages 8–12 · 2021

A refugee girl finds hope and courage in a surf club.

Sale price

$899

Cuba in My Pocket

Ages 8–12 · 2021

A boy's journey from Cuba to the U.S. tests his courage and hope for family reunion.

Sale price

$1799

Letters from Cuba

Ages 10–12 · 2020

A young girl escapes Poland for Cuba, striving to reunite her family amidst rising dangers.

Sale price

$699

Escape

Ages 8–12 · 2009

Children face unimaginable horrors in a fight for survival during the Holocaust.

Sale price

$899

The Children of Willesden Lane

Ages 8–12 · 2002

A young pianist's music becomes her lifeline amid war's chaos.

Sale price

$1699

World in Between

Ages 8–12 · 2021

A boy's life is upended by war, leading to a perilous escape and a new beginning.

Sale price

$1699

Shadow

Ages 10–14 · 2010

A boy's quest to reunite with his lost dog amidst war and captivity.

Graphic Nov.

Sale price

$2599

Family Style

Ages 14–18 · 2023

A Vietnamese boy's journey through food reveals his quest for belonging in America.

Sale price

$1399

Salt to the Sea

Ages 12–+ · 2016

Four refugees seek escape on a doomed ship during WWII.

Sale price

$999

I Lived on Butterfly Hill

Ages 10–14 · 2014

A young girl's life is shattered by political upheaval, forcing her into exile and a quest for safety.

Sale price

$899

The Boy at the Back of the Class

Ages 9–12 · 2018

A class unites to reunite a refugee boy with his family.

View all refugees chapter books

Keep exploring

Books about immigration and emigration Books about missing home and homesickness Books about survival stories Books about culture Books about death, grief, and bereavement Books about fitting in Books about helping others Books about new experiences

Our 10 Favorite Books About Refugees

Great books, picked for their age.

Refugees Picture Books

Refugees Chapter Books & Middle Grade

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