ES-CAPE (verb)
To avoid a threatening evil
This is a brilliant book. Esther was the first to read Escape and she pushed it in to my hands and said, “Mummy, you must read this one.” Esther told me the book was filled with true stories of brave people who had to leave their homes in search of safety. She was right.
Escape tells twelve remarkable true stories about people who have had to leave their homes. People from different places around the world, from different periods of history. Stories of people who in order to survive have been forced to leave their families and homes because of war, famine, slavery, intolerance, economic and political upheaval, or climate change. Their stories are amazing and I am in awe of every person included as I know my children are.
Each of the 12 stories is introduced with one word. Cling. Defy. Flee. Stowaway. Swim. Tunnel.
Through these stories we meet hugely courageous people who have escaped, who have overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles in their flight to freedom.
Two sisters fleeing war torn Syria in an overloaded dinghy. The two girls jumped into choppy waters to save other passengers. The sisters clung on for hours, passing boats and coastguards refused to help them. The girls never gave up and not only did they make it to shore, one went on to become an Olympic swimmer.
One young man left his pacific island home because of climate change. Rising sea levels were endangering his country. His home was drowning.
The incredibly moving thing about these stories is that so many of these people fleeing in terror, not only save themselves but they work hard to help and save others too. The brave people in these stories are so inspirational and wonderful role models for our children. They demonstrate bravery, creative problem solving, strength, resilience, kindness. All beyond measure. And many of them have gone on to contribute greatly to their new home nations.
Every person in this book was forced to run, swim, sprint, fly, flee, escape to avoid a threatening evil and in their darkest moments they have shown us all how to be good humans.
These stories should be read and shared and remembered.