Cast Away

July 25, 2016
In her first book, McDonald-Gibson, a journalist experienced in covering the European Union, examines the last five years of the refugee crisis in the Mediterranean. Her account is told, in large part, through the voices of refugees such as Majid, a young Nigerian forced to flee two different homes, and Sina, an Eritrean woman who, with her husband, did not think of leaving her home until staying became impossible. The author’s note at the end of the book clarifies some of her choices—including the use of pseudonyms when requested—but might have been better placed at the beginning. McDonald-Gibson is shrewd in her presentation of the EU’s failures, though she’s often less pointed when discussing northern European countries. The book shines as a portrait of the hopes and frustrations of the families and individuals who risk so much for safer lives and the generosities and cruelties, both passive and active, that they encounter in their travels. This book will be illuminating for every reader who wants to better understand the human side of a complex, wrenching issue. Agent: Charlie Viney, Viney Agency (U.K.).

Starred review from July 15, 2016
Giving faces to the headline stories about the flood of immigrants seeking asylum in Europe.McDonald-Gibson, a Brussels-based correspondent for the Independent and TIME, has covered international affairs for the past 13 years. Looking behind the headlines, she chronicles the experiences of five immigrants and their families to provide a scaffold for understanding the turmoil in sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East that has driven more than 1.5 million people to leave their homes and families since 2011. "For decades," writes the author, "hopes of a better life had pushed people to Europe's unwelcoming shores," some in the hope of finding work and others to escape the chaotic conditions of civil war or to avoid military conscription. McDonald-Gibson's stories are all poignant, and she begins with Majid Hussain, from a wealthy Nigerian family. In 2011, he saw his Muslim father murdered by a Christian mob. On the run, he escaped to Libya, but as an undocumented immigrant, his situation was precarious, and he was forced to flee again, this time to a refugee camp in Italy (he gained asylum in 2013). Hussain was one of the lucky ones who escaped; many died on the way. McDonald-Gibson blames this on the failure of the European Union to give refugees the opportunity to immigrate legally and to welcome them on arrival, and she pinpoints the so-called Arab Spring as a turning point. While European politicians hailed the uprisings, they failed to come through with tangible support for those forced to flee. This helped to create the perfect environment for the development of a lucrative illegal immigration industry. Furthermore, thousands still languish in refugee camps, a situation that has provided a recruitment opportunity for the Islamic State group and other radical organizations. Skillfully weaving together the tragic stories of her subjects, McDonald-Gibson successfully humanizes them and provides readers a much-needed inside look at a significant problem. A powerfully written, well-documented account of a humanitarian crisis of epic proportions.

COPYRIGHT(2016) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

August 1, 2016

Journalist McDonald-Gibson goes beyond mere statistics to write an incredibly compelling, in-depth look at five European refugees as they escape civil war and carnage as a result of political uncertainty. From being forced out of Syria to landing on the unwelcoming shores of Italy and Greece having lived through a tortuous journey, these first-person accounts collected from countless interviews offer a fresh perspective and fervent call to action on a subject that has increasing global interest and impact. As the author points out, no one should be turning a blind eye. There is a lot of detail, including maps and sources for further reading, yet sometimes the information is overwhelming and difficult to follow. Without some background knowledge or seeking out the sources provided, portions of the text could prove challenging, despite Gibson's effort to make this work accessible to all. In the same vein, the topic of how to aid refugees is a controversial one; this moving story may only interest those already on the side of the issue Gibson is promoting. VERDICT Well-composed and well-researched, with the satisfaction of human interest stories, this title belongs in all collections for its timeliness and historical and political significance.--Kaitlin Malixi, formerly at Virginia Beach P.L.

Copyright 2016 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 1, 2016
With the overwhelming images of refugees and migrants fleeing war in North Africa and the Middle East in search of safe home in Europe, this stirring contemporary account roots the mythic perilous journey in the heartbreak of personal stories. The catastrophic numbers are overwhelming (number of refugee and migrant asylum seekers entering the EU in 2015: 1,004,356), and the big stories are appalling: for example, 800 refugees locked in the hold of a doomed fishing vessel die when the boat sinks. But it's the personal stories, like those collected here, that bring the appalling headlines and numbers to vivid, individual life: the rescue of a young mother about to give birth; another young mother asked to drug her newborn baby into silence to avoid capture. Throughout these accounts, one theme emerges: men, women, and children never sure whetherat the end of their journeysthey will be welcomed or cast aside, whether police will guide them to safety or use tear gas on them. The details cut through the politician's rhetoric: cell phones keeping separated parents and children informed of where they areuntil there are no more messages.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)