Scholastic secures graphic novel telling the stories of displaced people and refugees

Scholastic UK has acquired the rights to The Power of Welcome, a graphic novel featuring the true stories of displaced people and refugees from Afghanistan, Bosnia, Somalia, Syria and Ukraine. 

Written for ages 9+ and with YA/adult crossover appeal, the novel aims to help readers understand the plight of those forced to leave their homes. 

Contributors include Marie Bamyani, a former psychologist who left Afghanistan during the fall of Kabul; Ada Jusic who came to the UK as a refugee from Bosnia-Herzegovina when she was a child; Nadine Kaadan who is an award-winning children’s book author and illustrator from Syria now living in London; writer and cartoonist Ramzee who immigrated with his family from Somalia to the UK as asylum seekers; and Sonya Zhurenko, a 15-year-old girl who fled Ukraine for Italy with her family in February 2022. Each story has an introduction about the country, written by Bali Rai and Karim Khwanda. 

As well as retelling her first-hand experience as a Bosnian refugee, visual artist Jusic illustrated The Power of Welcome.  

Scholastic UK’s non-fiction, brands and licensing team, led by publisher Elizabeth Scoggins, acquired world rights directly from Jusic, Bamyani and Ramzee; via Darley Anderson for Kaadan, and via Capueta agency for Zhurenko.  

Jusic said: “Being a child refugee is a very confusing, isolating and lonely experience. I hope this book not only helps other children understand the power and humanity of welcoming refugees but also helps other child refugees like myself feel less alone.” 

Ramzee added: “One day I was out jogging and was caught in the rain. I ran toward a bus shelter that was already crammed with people but despite that, everybody instinctually shuffled up to let me in. We all know the wretched feeling of being drenched so know to give shelter. Behind the word ’refugee’ are people just like you and me. People who have gone through a lot of hardship to find a place where they can feel safe and live freely and, knowing how good those things are, we should know to give shelter. For my story I wanted to write something that highlighted the importance of refugees telling their own stories by contrasting it with how refugee stories are commonly told by non-refugees.” 

Scoggins said: “We are so proud  to share the important and insightful stories of refugee and migrant journeys in this compelling and accessible graphic novel. Readers are immediately welcomed into these  personal true stories brought to life by Ada Jusic’s artwork.”