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No Safe Place
Finalist for the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children's Book Award
Orphaned and plagued with the grief of losing everyone he loves, fifteen-year-old Abdul has made a long, fraught journey from his war-torn home in Baghdad, only to end up in The Jungle -- the squalid, makeshift migrant community in Calais.
When an altercation at the soup kitchen ends up with him accidently stabbing a policeman, Abdul has to flee, and in desperation he takes a spot in a small boat heading to England. A sudden skirmish leaves the boat stalled in the middle of the Channel, the pilot dead, and four young people remaining -- Abdul; Rosalia, a Romani girl who has escaped from the white slave trade; Cheslav, gone AWOL from a Russian military school; and Jonah, the boat pilot's ten-year-old nephew.
The four of them end up hijacking a yacht and, despite their fear and mistrust, they form a kind of makeshift family. And as the authorities close in on them, they find refuge in an unusual place -- a child's secret cave on the English coast.
Orphaned and plagued with the grief of losing everyone he loves, fifteen-year-old Abdul has made a long, fraught journey from his war-torn home in Baghdad, only to end up in The Jungle -- the squalid, makeshift migrant community in Calais.
When an altercation at the soup kitchen ends up with him accidently stabbing a policeman, Abdul has to flee, and in desperation he takes a spot in a small boat heading to England. A sudden skirmish leaves the boat stalled in the middle of the Channel, the pilot dead, and four young people remaining -- Abdul; Rosalia, a Romani girl who has escaped from the white slave trade; Cheslav, gone AWOL from a Russian military school; and Jonah, the boat pilot's ten-year-old nephew.
The four of them end up hijacking a yacht and, despite their fear and mistrust, they form a kind of makeshift family. And as the authorities close in on them, they find refuge in an unusual place -- a child's secret cave on the English coast.
210 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 24, 2010
53 people are currently reading
607 people want to read
About the author
Deborah Ellis
59 books600 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Deborah Ellis has achieved international acclaim with her courageous and dramatic books that give Western readers a glimpse into the plight of children in developing countries.
She has won the Governor General's Award, Sweden's Peter Pan Prize, the Ruth Schwartz Award, the University of California's Middle East Book Award, the Jane Addams Children's Book Award and the Vicky Metcalf Award.
A long-time feminist and anti-war activist, she is best known for The Breadwinner Trilogy, which has been published around the world in seventeen languages, with more than a million dollars in royalties donated to Street Kids International and to Women for Women, an organization that supports health and education projects in Afghanistan. In 2006, Deb was named to the Order of Ontario.
Deborah Ellis has achieved international acclaim with her courageous and dramatic books that give Western readers a glimpse into the plight of children in developing countries.
She has won the Governor General's Award, Sweden's Peter Pan Prize, the Ruth Schwartz Award, the University of California's Middle East Book Award, the Jane Addams Children's Book Award and the Vicky Metcalf Award.
A long-time feminist and anti-war activist, she is best known for The Breadwinner Trilogy, which has been published around the world in seventeen languages, with more than a million dollars in royalties donated to Street Kids International and to Women for Women, an organization that supports health and education projects in Afghanistan. In 2006, Deb was named to the Order of Ontario.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
March 23, 2012
No Safe Place by Deborah Ellis is a great action, adventure book. Three teenagers go on a journey trying to get to England, but they have to cross the English Channel. In this book the author puts you in their place, homeless teenaggers looking for a place that they can live, and a better life.
Three teenagers Abdul, Rosalia, and Cheslav go on an adventure to England but somehow meet each other along the way. They all have the same problem, they need to cross the English channel for different reasons so they work together, and find a way to get to England. They pay someone almost all their money to give them a boat ride to England but should they have trusted him?
A cool thing the author does in this book is at different chapters she tells how the three teens get to where they are now. So thoughout the book you will learn what happened in Abdul, Rosalia and Cheslav's childhood. This book is non-stop action from the beggining, first it starts off talking about Abdul, then when he meets the other two it starts telling you what happened their life. Even though it talks about Rosalia and Cheslav, whenever the three of them are together the author always writes about Abdul's point of veiw.
I can only think of one bad thing in this book, whenever the author changes chapter she sometime talks about one of teens childhood, and when she does that she doesn't have a chapter title saying that. So every time she switches chapters you never know what part the author is going to talk about.
In conclusion this book is fantastic! I think everyone should give this book a shot, I rate this book a 4 out of 5, so if your looking for a good book to read this should be one of your first choises, and it's not that long.
Three teenagers Abdul, Rosalia, and Cheslav go on an adventure to England but somehow meet each other along the way. They all have the same problem, they need to cross the English channel for different reasons so they work together, and find a way to get to England. They pay someone almost all their money to give them a boat ride to England but should they have trusted him?
A cool thing the author does in this book is at different chapters she tells how the three teens get to where they are now. So thoughout the book you will learn what happened in Abdul, Rosalia and Cheslav's childhood. This book is non-stop action from the beggining, first it starts off talking about Abdul, then when he meets the other two it starts telling you what happened their life. Even though it talks about Rosalia and Cheslav, whenever the three of them are together the author always writes about Abdul's point of veiw.
I can only think of one bad thing in this book, whenever the author changes chapter she sometime talks about one of teens childhood, and when she does that she doesn't have a chapter title saying that. So every time she switches chapters you never know what part the author is going to talk about.
In conclusion this book is fantastic! I think everyone should give this book a shot, I rate this book a 4 out of 5, so if your looking for a good book to read this should be one of your first choises, and it's not that long.
October 20, 2015
The plot of this novel is very interesting. It starts off with a boy named Abdul who wants to cross into England and be free. His entire family is dead and he is forced to stay with his uncle who treats him badly. He ends up running away and has to eat in a homeless shelter on his way to Iraq. He gets to the border of the Mediterranean Sea and pays a smuggler to get him to England. He and 4 others load onto a small skiff and try to go to England. They knock the smuggler out of the skiff and are alone. They find an American yacht and toss the few people on it overboard. Cheslav, Rosaile, Abdul, and Jonas all make it to England in the yacht without getting caught by the coastguard. In between the story, it flashes back to each of the immigrants childhoods and how they ended up where they are and every characters story is very unique and is very shocking when they tell it. For example, Cheslav originally attended a Siberian military camp and then he got transferred to play the trumpet at large military events. The four immigrants eventually end up in a small village and stay in a furnished cave and live there for about two days. Then Abdul leaves to go to Arsenal's arena and to Penny Lane to drop off a medallion that his friend Kalil had given him.
My personal opinion on this book was that I've never actually read a more realistic book. You learn the life of a modern day illegal alien and their journey to get to the country they want. I liked this book because of how suspenseful it was and all of the action that is in the book. Reading a book in the perspective of a person in poverty is a real mind changer on what you have because I am in the middle class and I have the basic essentials and more while Abdul didn't have any of that. The one thing that really hit me was when he didn't get to eat for days at a time and his showers were going to a library and washing himself in the sink.
I would recommend this book to a person in high school because of some of the content in it is a little inappropriate for younger kids. It has a lot of action which is why I think guys would like this book a lot. Also if you like a little bit of sadness and some heartwarming moments, this novel has a few of those.
My personal opinion on this book was that I've never actually read a more realistic book. You learn the life of a modern day illegal alien and their journey to get to the country they want. I liked this book because of how suspenseful it was and all of the action that is in the book. Reading a book in the perspective of a person in poverty is a real mind changer on what you have because I am in the middle class and I have the basic essentials and more while Abdul didn't have any of that. The one thing that really hit me was when he didn't get to eat for days at a time and his showers were going to a library and washing himself in the sink.
I would recommend this book to a person in high school because of some of the content in it is a little inappropriate for younger kids. It has a lot of action which is why I think guys would like this book a lot. Also if you like a little bit of sadness and some heartwarming moments, this novel has a few of those.
October 30, 2014
No Safe Place shares Abdul's journey from Iraq to England. Abdul, a fifteen year old Iraqi, is an orphan whose father and brothers were killed in Iraq by American bombs in 2003. Two years later, his mother was driving him and an orphaned neighbor, Fatima, when two men shot and killed her for driving a car. The story begins in Calais, where Abdul gets caught in a riot while attempting to get food. He stabs a policeman and starts to run.
Eventually, Abdul begins his voyage out of Calais and gets on an illegal boat taking immigrants out of the country. Over the course of the ride he meets many immigrants, including Jonah, Cheslav, and Rosalia. Eventually, they discover that their boat is filled with hidden heroin, and that their journey was, in part, a drug smuggling operation. Later, Abdul and the three other children are the only ones left on the boat and encounter two men with a yacht. They steal the yacht, and set out for England.
Interwoven into the action is Cheslav, Rosalia, and Jonah's stories. You learn about how they got to the boat and their backstories. Eventually, the boat approaches land along the coast of Cornwall, England. Once they disembark from the yacht, they meet Gemma and get to know her in her secret cave. Gemma and her mother take the teenagers in, care for them, and do what they can to help them complete their journey.
I loved this book and couldn't put it down! I think this book would be a great fit for middle school or high school students. It teaches a lot about stereotypes and the way people from other backgrounds are perceived by the world. The book could also be used within the context of history to teach about the Iraq War (beginning in 2003), and other European countries and cultures. I also think that the book has a strong message of friendship, and how to be reliant on one another. I would highly reccommend this book to adults and students, and I thought it was great!!!
Eventually, Abdul begins his voyage out of Calais and gets on an illegal boat taking immigrants out of the country. Over the course of the ride he meets many immigrants, including Jonah, Cheslav, and Rosalia. Eventually, they discover that their boat is filled with hidden heroin, and that their journey was, in part, a drug smuggling operation. Later, Abdul and the three other children are the only ones left on the boat and encounter two men with a yacht. They steal the yacht, and set out for England.
Interwoven into the action is Cheslav, Rosalia, and Jonah's stories. You learn about how they got to the boat and their backstories. Eventually, the boat approaches land along the coast of Cornwall, England. Once they disembark from the yacht, they meet Gemma and get to know her in her secret cave. Gemma and her mother take the teenagers in, care for them, and do what they can to help them complete their journey.
I loved this book and couldn't put it down! I think this book would be a great fit for middle school or high school students. It teaches a lot about stereotypes and the way people from other backgrounds are perceived by the world. The book could also be used within the context of history to teach about the Iraq War (beginning in 2003), and other European countries and cultures. I also think that the book has a strong message of friendship, and how to be reliant on one another. I would highly reccommend this book to adults and students, and I thought it was great!!!
March 20, 2012
The novel NO SAFE PLACE by, Deborah Ellis is an amazing read.
The story takes place in Calais, where Abdul,a young teenage migrant roams the streets .Devastating events have cost him his family, and friends when he lived in his old country. Though now he can escape to a better place, away from all the war and disaster. To England. He meets with a smuggler who claims he can take him and others there on his boat. Where Abdul meets with two other migrants who both possess the same dream of going to England as he does.In chapters, the author describes the past lives of the three migrants Abdul, Cheslav, and Rosalia. Their loss, struggles, and the over-all devastating experiences leading them up to that point. All on their search of a "SAFE PLACE".
I believe that this book shows much strength in many catagories. The author of this novel does a good job of explaining the event that is occuring, giving you a clear visual image in your mind, making you feel like your right there watching the character. The author also describes the expressions of the characters realistically making them seem beleivable. For example the author describes "he looked at Cheslav as if his opinion mattered very much" page 127. The author is refering to an expression probobly lots of us have been given before. And since the topic of the story is very realistic already, the descrption only seems to make the story better.
In my opinion I beleive that this book is truly incredible. The writing style of the author explains every detail of the book. While still at a level that is understandable and realistic. I beleive the author chose the best point of view, because it shows the perspectives af all the characters. And while also being able to present the story of their past in in a detailed manner. Though I especially like this book because of the genre. This novel is realistic-fiction, presenting actual situations that people can relate to because the aspects of it actually occur in real life. I absolutly loved this novel. And If I were to rate it, I would rate 5 out of 5 stars!!!!
The story takes place in Calais, where Abdul,a young teenage migrant roams the streets .Devastating events have cost him his family, and friends when he lived in his old country. Though now he can escape to a better place, away from all the war and disaster. To England. He meets with a smuggler who claims he can take him and others there on his boat. Where Abdul meets with two other migrants who both possess the same dream of going to England as he does.In chapters, the author describes the past lives of the three migrants Abdul, Cheslav, and Rosalia. Their loss, struggles, and the over-all devastating experiences leading them up to that point. All on their search of a "SAFE PLACE".
I believe that this book shows much strength in many catagories. The author of this novel does a good job of explaining the event that is occuring, giving you a clear visual image in your mind, making you feel like your right there watching the character. The author also describes the expressions of the characters realistically making them seem beleivable. For example the author describes "he looked at Cheslav as if his opinion mattered very much" page 127. The author is refering to an expression probobly lots of us have been given before. And since the topic of the story is very realistic already, the descrption only seems to make the story better.
In my opinion I beleive that this book is truly incredible. The writing style of the author explains every detail of the book. While still at a level that is understandable and realistic. I beleive the author chose the best point of view, because it shows the perspectives af all the characters. And while also being able to present the story of their past in in a detailed manner. Though I especially like this book because of the genre. This novel is realistic-fiction, presenting actual situations that people can relate to because the aspects of it actually occur in real life. I absolutly loved this novel. And If I were to rate it, I would rate 5 out of 5 stars!!!!
February 24, 2012
Im reading no safe place By Deborah Ellis it is abought three outlaws who meet trying to start their new lives.I do not know how she came up with the book but it was fantastic!
My opinion is that it was a fantastic read I loved how the book would flash to their lives as kids and how they got there. All three of the main charactors were wanted by the cops but when stuck on a boat heading to thier new lives they got to know their painfull backstories Abduls was on pg 47-52 72-80 rosilies was on pg91-112 and cheslaves backstorie was on pg 123-152.
I think one of the books weeknesses is that there is not non stop action or adventure. The books strength is that you get to see there lives as kides and how they got to where the are now.
I loved this book because it is thre outlaws trying to start a new life after there family was killed or left them to die but insted they got up dusted themselfs off and started a new life together.
As a recap no safe place by Deborah Ellis is a fantastic third person book that I hope you read!
My opinion is that it was a fantastic read I loved how the book would flash to their lives as kids and how they got there. All three of the main charactors were wanted by the cops but when stuck on a boat heading to thier new lives they got to know their painfull backstories Abduls was on pg 47-52 72-80 rosilies was on pg91-112 and cheslaves backstorie was on pg 123-152.
I think one of the books weeknesses is that there is not non stop action or adventure. The books strength is that you get to see there lives as kides and how they got to where the are now.
I loved this book because it is thre outlaws trying to start a new life after there family was killed or left them to die but insted they got up dusted themselfs off and started a new life together.
As a recap no safe place by Deborah Ellis is a fantastic third person book that I hope you read!
December 21, 2016
no safe place is about a boy who is around the age of 15 or 16 and lives in Pakistan and he wants to cross the sea to go to Britain or London, So what he did was pay for a boat ride to Britain and during the trip the driver got into ta fight with a person on the boat so he threw him off and then the and the passengers threw him of as then the boy was in charge and they came across a yatt where hey killed the men on the yatt and took it over and so they landed in Britain where they met a small girl so showed them around and they then went on there ways.
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January 15, 2019No Safe Place
Personal Response
I think this book, for the most part, was kind of confusing. It had a lot of jumping around from the past to present and from the present to the future. There was a lot of narrating throughout the whole story with little to no plot.
Plot summary
So this story is practically about a boy named Abdul who is on a quest to find his mom. Abdul is in a time of war where the Russian militia gets boys to fight. It was a very confusing story because it never stayed the same time tense always jumping around. He was is Russia and wanted to leave to go to England but never had enough money. When he had enough money he got on a ship but while on to the ship there were troubles along the way. The man driving the ship was very disrespectful and got thrown into the sea then someone died. They managed to find a yacht with people living on it they snuck on but were soon held at gunpoint the managed to abandon the old ship with the men on it. It took them a while but they eventually found land they ventured into a cave and a girl found them they lived with this girl and her mother for some time. Abdul got annoyed by the other people staying there and ventured off to try and find his mother.
Recommendations
I would rate this probably a 3 out of 5, because one, it is not the wording in the book that makes it confusing, it is the way it jumps around from past to present, and from present to future and vise versa. I would recommend to most people that are into I guess into survival or mystery. This book is not a bad book to read but it does not have the best plot I personally would not have read this book if I knew the plot before I read the book, but that’s just a little of my opinion about this book.
Personal Response
I think this book, for the most part, was kind of confusing. It had a lot of jumping around from the past to present and from the present to the future. There was a lot of narrating throughout the whole story with little to no plot.
Plot summary
So this story is practically about a boy named Abdul who is on a quest to find his mom. Abdul is in a time of war where the Russian militia gets boys to fight. It was a very confusing story because it never stayed the same time tense always jumping around. He was is Russia and wanted to leave to go to England but never had enough money. When he had enough money he got on a ship but while on to the ship there were troubles along the way. The man driving the ship was very disrespectful and got thrown into the sea then someone died. They managed to find a yacht with people living on it they snuck on but were soon held at gunpoint the managed to abandon the old ship with the men on it. It took them a while but they eventually found land they ventured into a cave and a girl found them they lived with this girl and her mother for some time. Abdul got annoyed by the other people staying there and ventured off to try and find his mother.
Recommendations
I would rate this probably a 3 out of 5, because one, it is not the wording in the book that makes it confusing, it is the way it jumps around from past to present, and from present to future and vise versa. I would recommend to most people that are into I guess into survival or mystery. This book is not a bad book to read but it does not have the best plot I personally would not have read this book if I knew the plot before I read the book, but that’s just a little of my opinion about this book.
November 17, 2013
No Safe Place is an important book. Ellis offers a glimpse into a world that we as a society are otherwise oblivious to. This book places a name and a face to the countless middle-eastern children whose lives the war destroyed, these people who are all but hopeless.
Enter Abdul, a fifteen year old with just a dream and a gold medallion. His story, as are those of the other children he befriends on his way to England, is riveting and horrifyingly real. Ellis' depiction of life in Calais provides a brutally true-to-life description of the difficulties illegal migrants struggle with today. I appreciated how shockingly honest the first part of the book was, but I was a bit disappointed with the ending. I questioned the likelihood that three teenagers and a small child could so easily outsmart two grown men, thus stealing and eventually sinking their yacht, but I let it go.
This isn't what spoiled the book for me, though. To be completely honest, the ending sucked. It was like a magical fairy-tale ending, very uncharacteristic of the rest of Ellis' work. Although the ending was disappointing, I still enjoyed the book a lot. It's a great read, and I believe that this book is very important and eye-opening. No Safe Place is vital in today's world, and it calls attention to the people who need it most.
Enter Abdul, a fifteen year old with just a dream and a gold medallion. His story, as are those of the other children he befriends on his way to England, is riveting and horrifyingly real. Ellis' depiction of life in Calais provides a brutally true-to-life description of the difficulties illegal migrants struggle with today. I appreciated how shockingly honest the first part of the book was, but I was a bit disappointed with the ending. I questioned the likelihood that three teenagers and a small child could so easily outsmart two grown men, thus stealing and eventually sinking their yacht, but I let it go.
This isn't what spoiled the book for me, though. To be completely honest, the ending sucked. It was like a magical fairy-tale ending, very uncharacteristic of the rest of Ellis' work. Although the ending was disappointing, I still enjoyed the book a lot. It's a great read, and I believe that this book is very important and eye-opening. No Safe Place is vital in today's world, and it calls attention to the people who need it most.
December 1, 2014
This work of realistic fiction by Deborah Ellis tells the story of three young people who are trying to illegally cross the borfer from France into England. There backgrounds are culturally mixed: Abdul is a fifteen year old Kurdish boy from Baghdad, Chreschav is fourteen year old from Russia, and Rosalia is a fourteen year old Roma girl who struuggles to identify with a "homeland", as she has moved so frequently. Each of these young people is escaping from something, and their stories are rvealed through flashbacks. In between the flashbacks, Ellis focuses on the present, during which these young people are stranded on a boat, hoping to making it safely to England.
Ellis is an excellent storyteller and she paints a clear picture of each of the characters with vivid descriptions and dialogue. This book deals with many themes, but perhaps the most dominant is self-identity. Each of the characters sttruggles with the juxtaposition between the way they see themselves and the way that they are seen by others. For this reason, this book would be a great starting point for a discussion about labels and stereotypes and how we see ourselves vs. how others see us.
A great book dealing with difficult and important themes.
Ellis is an excellent storyteller and she paints a clear picture of each of the characters with vivid descriptions and dialogue. This book deals with many themes, but perhaps the most dominant is self-identity. Each of the characters sttruggles with the juxtaposition between the way they see themselves and the way that they are seen by others. For this reason, this book would be a great starting point for a discussion about labels and stereotypes and how we see ourselves vs. how others see us.
A great book dealing with difficult and important themes.
September 24, 2010
Deborah Ellis has a gift for telling the stories of children who are living in difficult, dangerous situations. In this one she tells the story of four young people, thrown together by chance, trying to escape from Calais to a better life in England. Throughout the journey we learn their stories and the circumstances of their lives that brought them to the breaking point. Ellis focuses on Abdul as the main character. He has been orphaned and has escaped from Baghdad and the horrors of war and religious tyranny. As he boards a boat with others waiting to be smuggled into England, he meets Rosalia, a Roma, who is also orphaned and is escaping a life of white slavery. And there is Cheslav, an angry young Russian who is escaping from the Russian Army. Also on board is the smuggler's young nephew, who is English and is an orphan as well. These four young people must make the perilous journey from France to England and from their past into an unknown future. A very well-written and engrossing story. The ending is uplifting but probably unrealistic. But it is enough to give some hope that maybe there is a safe place somewhere for unwanted young people.
March 24, 2011
Deborah Ellis has a style that is simple and direct but when you have read her stories, you feel as if you’ve been transported to a rich but often dangerous place that thankfully a lot of us will never know. No Safe Place revolves around three children on the run. Abdul from Iraq, Cheslav from Russia and Rosalia is Roma who doesn’t have a country to call her own. All three have escaped brutal childhoods with inexplicable cruelties and are now on the run to a better life. They meet in Calais late at night on a smuggler’s boat, bound for England. The smuggler is ruthless, the night is dark and frightening and not everything will go to plan. Will they make it to England and what will happen if they get there? Deborah Ellis has spent many years talking to kids from war-torn countries, collecting their stories and retelling them in brilliantly accessible style. It’s a brutal but honest retelling of not only what these three kids face, but many kids all over the world meet daily.
March 22, 2012
Abdul is 13 years old and has been in the united kingdom as a immigrant. Abdul came to the unite kingdom because of his country is in war with the united states. After coming to the UK he meets a girl from russia named cheslav's. there was a another girl from UK named Rosalia. They all saved eat other lives at least once. They all were in the same troubles and sometimes came to death.
In the book No safe place by Deborah Ellis i liked the parts where Abdul, Cheslav's, and Rosalia always helped each other and ha each others back. They also always told the truth to each other even though how bad it is.
I did not like the part when Abdul travelled around half the world by himself and them has to live on the streets then living with his family in his little home. Now he has to get is own food and home. he will need to stay alive by himself and that will be really hard.
If i had to rate this book out of 10 it would be a 7. It was a good book but could be better.
In the book No safe place by Deborah Ellis i liked the parts where Abdul, Cheslav's, and Rosalia always helped each other and ha each others back. They also always told the truth to each other even though how bad it is.
I did not like the part when Abdul travelled around half the world by himself and them has to live on the streets then living with his family in his little home. Now he has to get is own food and home. he will need to stay alive by himself and that will be really hard.
If i had to rate this book out of 10 it would be a 7. It was a good book but could be better.
February 20, 2012
Although the main character, Abdul, is from Afghanistan, he ends up traveling with Rosalia, a Roma girl from Poland, and Cheslav, a Russian teenage boy. We learn the stories of all three including how the great grandparents of Rosalia were in the concentration camp of Marzahn and how limited the options are for orphans in Russia.
This emotional story informs and convicts those in western countries where living conditions are good and problems of the world seem so far away.
This emotional story informs and convicts those in western countries where living conditions are good and problems of the world seem so far away.
October 16, 2014
Amazing book! Definitely a page turner; I couldn't put it down, and yes, I finished this book in 2 days. "No Safe Place" is about a young boy named Abdul, without parents, trying to find a safe place to live. He goes on many different adventures and meets new people. I definitely recommend this book to people who find it difficult to read since this book is so easy to read while being extremely amusing.
January 8, 2024
aight
September 1, 2014
This review originally appeared in Viewpoint: On Books for Young Adults.
Deborah Ellis’ No Safe Place follows the fortunes of four refugee children who are thrown together in their desperate bid to escape horrific circumstances. Abdul, 15, has been orphaned by the war in Iraq and is living rough in France while he tries to secure illegal passage to England. His life in Calais is violent, dangerous and miserable; he survives on the one meal a day provided by charity and guards his precious roll of English banknotes by wrapping it in plastic and forcing it up his bottom. When Abdul gains a place aboard a rickety people-smuggling boat, he meets Rosalina (a Roma girl), Russian boy Cheslav, and Jonah, the British smuggler’s nephew. The children are hardened by their circumstances and fiercely suspicious of each other, but when a storm and a struggle aboard the boat suddenly puts them in charge of their own destinies, they realise that they will have to work together in order to survive.
The story is told mostly told from Abdul’s point of view, interspersed with flashback chapters where the reader learns the events that have brought each character to their current desperate existence. Rosalina was sold by her family to ‘work’ for two men, the work turned out to be prostitution. Cheslav was abandoned at a young age by his mail-order-bride mother, dumped at an orphanage and later forced into a brutal military school. Abdul’s father and brother were killed in a bomb blast, and his mother later shot in front of him for the ‘sin’ of driving a car.
Best known for her Breadwinner Trilogy, Deborah Ellis specialises in unflinching portrayals of children whose lives have been torn apart by war and desperate poverty. The lives of these forgotten people are unbelievably horrific and No Safe Place often makes for very difficult reading:
“My son and I are going to make our way to Paris, on foot if we have to – what’s another long walk? We are going to the Eiffel Tower, or to that fancy garden with the flowers, or to the place where the president lives. I will get some gasoline, and I will pour it over my son and myself. Then I will tell him how much I love him. I will hold him close to me, and I will light a match.”
Abdul wasn’t shocked.
It is not just the events themselves that are appalling, but also the way the children have adapted to accept the violence and death as something normal (especially given the fact that while the characters are fictional, their experiences are fact for many). Ellis’ often sparse writing elegantly reflects the matter-of-fact attitude of her characters – the more shocking events are often simply detailed and this only serves to enhance their horror:
...more men came in. She kept up her fake cough, coughing as close to the door as possible so the men would be sure to hear her.
They left her alone that night.
She coughed all through the pleading and screaming and crying of the other two girls. She coughed while the parade of men laughed and slapped and grunted and drank. She coughed and thought about her great-grandmother fighting off the Nazis.
She knew she would not be left alone another night.
Ellis creates strong, smart characters that make for satisfying reading. The resourceful and fierce Rosalina quickly became a favourite of mine. Her escape from prostitution is one of the most exciting and rewarding sequences in the book (plus her reaction when Abdul later expects her to do his washing is priceless).
I find the age recommendation on the back of this book (an uncorrected proof) to be problematic. My copy recommends it for ages 11-14, but I believe both the age of the protagonists (14-15) and the distressing detail of many of the events places it firmly in the middle-upper secondary readership. Perhaps some more mature younger readers would be able to manage, but I think many upper primary/lower secondary readers would find the more graphic scenes difficult to cope with:
They each held a machine gun. They pointed their guns at Abdul’s mother.
“Only whores drive!” one of the men shouted.
Then they opened fire.
Abdul flung himself down on the seat, over the top of Fatima. He clawed the air, trying to grab his mother to pull her down out of the range of the bullets.
There was shattered glass everywhere. The guns were loud and seemed to go on and on.
And then there was silence. The guns stopped shooting. Abdul heard the car doors slam, tires squeal and cars drive away.
“Mama? Mama!”
His mother’s face was a mass of blood and pulp.
Little Fatima, leaning against his mother, was silent and still. There was a bullet hole in her head.
Abdul began to scream. He screamed and screamed and tried to shake his mother back to life.
While No Safe Place is a gripping read that tells an important story, the violence, tension and desperation are so unrelenting that more sensitive readers may find it too much. The moments of humour and relief are few, which may well reflect the lives of these displaced children, but for the reader it makes the book very hard-going. Perhaps the saddest part of this story is that while the children are so desperate to reach England, as illegal immigrants, their difficulties won’t end once they reach it. While Ellis’ conclusion is moderately hopeful, it also realistically acknowledges that for these children, there still really is no safe place.
Deborah Ellis’ No Safe Place follows the fortunes of four refugee children who are thrown together in their desperate bid to escape horrific circumstances. Abdul, 15, has been orphaned by the war in Iraq and is living rough in France while he tries to secure illegal passage to England. His life in Calais is violent, dangerous and miserable; he survives on the one meal a day provided by charity and guards his precious roll of English banknotes by wrapping it in plastic and forcing it up his bottom. When Abdul gains a place aboard a rickety people-smuggling boat, he meets Rosalina (a Roma girl), Russian boy Cheslav, and Jonah, the British smuggler’s nephew. The children are hardened by their circumstances and fiercely suspicious of each other, but when a storm and a struggle aboard the boat suddenly puts them in charge of their own destinies, they realise that they will have to work together in order to survive.
The story is told mostly told from Abdul’s point of view, interspersed with flashback chapters where the reader learns the events that have brought each character to their current desperate existence. Rosalina was sold by her family to ‘work’ for two men, the work turned out to be prostitution. Cheslav was abandoned at a young age by his mail-order-bride mother, dumped at an orphanage and later forced into a brutal military school. Abdul’s father and brother were killed in a bomb blast, and his mother later shot in front of him for the ‘sin’ of driving a car.
Best known for her Breadwinner Trilogy, Deborah Ellis specialises in unflinching portrayals of children whose lives have been torn apart by war and desperate poverty. The lives of these forgotten people are unbelievably horrific and No Safe Place often makes for very difficult reading:
“My son and I are going to make our way to Paris, on foot if we have to – what’s another long walk? We are going to the Eiffel Tower, or to that fancy garden with the flowers, or to the place where the president lives. I will get some gasoline, and I will pour it over my son and myself. Then I will tell him how much I love him. I will hold him close to me, and I will light a match.”
Abdul wasn’t shocked.
It is not just the events themselves that are appalling, but also the way the children have adapted to accept the violence and death as something normal (especially given the fact that while the characters are fictional, their experiences are fact for many). Ellis’ often sparse writing elegantly reflects the matter-of-fact attitude of her characters – the more shocking events are often simply detailed and this only serves to enhance their horror:
...more men came in. She kept up her fake cough, coughing as close to the door as possible so the men would be sure to hear her.
They left her alone that night.
She coughed all through the pleading and screaming and crying of the other two girls. She coughed while the parade of men laughed and slapped and grunted and drank. She coughed and thought about her great-grandmother fighting off the Nazis.
She knew she would not be left alone another night.
Ellis creates strong, smart characters that make for satisfying reading. The resourceful and fierce Rosalina quickly became a favourite of mine. Her escape from prostitution is one of the most exciting and rewarding sequences in the book (plus her reaction when Abdul later expects her to do his washing is priceless).
I find the age recommendation on the back of this book (an uncorrected proof) to be problematic. My copy recommends it for ages 11-14, but I believe both the age of the protagonists (14-15) and the distressing detail of many of the events places it firmly in the middle-upper secondary readership. Perhaps some more mature younger readers would be able to manage, but I think many upper primary/lower secondary readers would find the more graphic scenes difficult to cope with:
They each held a machine gun. They pointed their guns at Abdul’s mother.
“Only whores drive!” one of the men shouted.
Then they opened fire.
Abdul flung himself down on the seat, over the top of Fatima. He clawed the air, trying to grab his mother to pull her down out of the range of the bullets.
There was shattered glass everywhere. The guns were loud and seemed to go on and on.
And then there was silence. The guns stopped shooting. Abdul heard the car doors slam, tires squeal and cars drive away.
“Mama? Mama!”
His mother’s face was a mass of blood and pulp.
Little Fatima, leaning against his mother, was silent and still. There was a bullet hole in her head.
Abdul began to scream. He screamed and screamed and tried to shake his mother back to life.
While No Safe Place is a gripping read that tells an important story, the violence, tension and desperation are so unrelenting that more sensitive readers may find it too much. The moments of humour and relief are few, which may well reflect the lives of these displaced children, but for the reader it makes the book very hard-going. Perhaps the saddest part of this story is that while the children are so desperate to reach England, as illegal immigrants, their difficulties won’t end once they reach it. While Ellis’ conclusion is moderately hopeful, it also realistically acknowledges that for these children, there still really is no safe place.
March 14, 2017
4.5/5 stars!
My only issue with this book was at the end when we find out Abdul's whole story. I felt the part about his friend (and himself I'm assuming) being gay was just thrown in there because it wasn't really alluded to at all throughout the book. I found that annoying since it was just dropped in there. Other than that great story!
My only issue with this book was at the end when we find out Abdul's whole story. I felt the part about his friend (and himself I'm assuming) being gay was just thrown in there because it wasn't really alluded to at all throughout the book. I found that annoying since it was just dropped in there. Other than that great story!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 17, 2020
No Safe Place by Deborah Ellis is one of my favourite books. I could not put it down and read the entire thing in one day. The unique writing style that is adored by many allowed this book to captivate many readers minds. It was a definitly page turner! The brilliant plot lines between the 3 teenagers touched my heart in various ways. I definitely recommend this book.
June 29, 2019
I knocked this over in a day. It’s a text for Yr 9 English and I quite enjoyed it. It moved along at a gallop and took you back into each characters history to give you more insight. It’s relevant and relatable.
May 7, 2023
El libro me ha gustado mucho, pensé que me aburriría o que sería difícil de leer, pero todo lo contrario, es un buen libro que habla de temas como la xenofobia , el racismo, la discriminación, la homófonos entre otros…
El final es bueno y me dejo conforme
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
El final es bueno y me dejo conforme
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
March 15, 2024
This story is about three teenagers who are trying to escape their home countries and meet up in Calais where there is an encampment of refugees trying to find a boat to cross the English Channel and get into England.
Each teen has their own horrific childhood history that is well written by the author and explains how they all ended up in Calais.
A gripping, heart-breaking novel.
Each teen has their own horrific childhood history that is well written by the author and explains how they all ended up in Calais.
A gripping, heart-breaking novel.
April 4, 2024
I don't think I've been pulled into a book like that in a while. A young boy who has to grow up quicker than he should who meets other young kids having to do the same. Struggling just to find some peace in their life... War, parents, death, all life's troubles throw into the mix. Good read.
June 11, 2017
A student recommended this book to me and I'm incredibly grateful that they did. I highly recommend this to anyone. Read anything by Deborah Ellis.
December 12, 2020
I highly recommend this book if you are covering the subject of immigration and refugees. I love this book
November 2, 2012
Ryan Hogan 4 B/D
Book Review Due Date: 10/31/12
For my book review, I read No Safe Place by Deborah Ellis. The copyright is 2010, and the genre is realistic fiction. This book is a rather pessimistic book, with not many “happy” parts or bright moments. The book is mainly about young immigrants that are forced to make tough choices in order to escape from their rough, violent or war torn native countries and seek better lives in other rich countries.. The main character is Abdul, a fifteen year old who lives in a migrant’s camp in Calais, France and lost his entire family in the war. Abdul was originally from Baghdad, Iraq, and he fled from Baghdad and traveled for four months and crossed six countries until he reached somewhat of a dead end in “The Jungle” of Calais, France. Cheslav is another main character. Cheslav hails from Russia. He lived in an orphanage, and he was put into military school against his will. He was transferred to Moscow because he had an extremely impressive talent in playing the trumpet. Cheslav escaped because he did not think there was place for him and his exceptional talent in his native Russia. Rosalia is another main character. Rosalia used her cunning skills to escape from the sex business that she was tricked into joining. Rosalia, just as Abdul and Cheslav, fled their native countries in order to pursue better lives elsewhere. Jonah is the ten year old nephew of the nasty man whose England-bound boat they are riding on. Abdul, Cheslav, Rosalia, and Jonah all meet aboard ship. Abdul, Cheslav, and Rosalia sneaked on the ship.
Abdul made friends with Kalil. They both had lots in common, such as music, and they seemed to have formed a healthy friendship. They both planned to flee to Calais, France together; however Kalil was beaten to death right in front of Abdul, while insulting Kalil with homophobic slurs. This is a turning point in the book because Kalil’s death seems to motivate Abdul to carry on with his plans and to never give up in honor of Kalil. The author seems to create a way to connect the reader with Abdul. Ellis can somehow almost make the reader feel what Abdul feels, and what Abdul feels is not good, which is why No Safe Place is such a heart-wrenching book. Once getting onto the ship, Abdul starts to feel as though his life is finally headed in the right direction. This will not be the case, however, as Abdul will very soon learn. .Abdul’s life arguably gets worse while on the ship due to the many conflicts and great mutual distrust amongst the passengers aboard the ship. Abdul remains hidden on the ship until the ship encounters stormy, rough seas A drug smuggler who is on the ship creates constant problems, and he eventually lashes out and puts all of the passengers’ lives at risk. There is a fight, and the smuggler is thrown overboard. The grim circumstances force the main characters to work together, no matter how troubled or different their pasts were. The main characters go from being nearly completely independent from the time they got on the ship, but by the time the voyage was coming to a close they almost became a family that cared for each other. The main characters must overcome even more obstacles and differences, but they eventually come together and help to get the ship to land before it sank, which may be the only bright spot in the entire book. Once the ship reached England, their long, tough journey came to a close.
Deborah Ellis uses her special writing abilities to create a bond between the reader and the main characters, especially Abdul. That is what makes No Safe Place such a hard-hitting novel. Even though this book is fictional, it is realistic fiction so a journey very similar to Abdul’s very easily could have already happened in the real world, which makes the story even harder to believe. I would definitely recommend this book to readers who are not light hearted and who want a book that is very adventurous, though it can be very depressing at the same time. I should definitely check out some more of Deborah Ellis’s books.
EXTRA: This is a link to a YouTube video that gives you a rough idea of the living conditions of “The Jungle” in Calais France. The place shown in the video is the exact same migrant camp that Abdul stayed in.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SFspv...
Sorry that the book title is not underlined. It doesn't seem to transfer from Microsoft Word to Goodreads. I hope you understand.
Book Review Due Date: 10/31/12
For my book review, I read No Safe Place by Deborah Ellis. The copyright is 2010, and the genre is realistic fiction. This book is a rather pessimistic book, with not many “happy” parts or bright moments. The book is mainly about young immigrants that are forced to make tough choices in order to escape from their rough, violent or war torn native countries and seek better lives in other rich countries.. The main character is Abdul, a fifteen year old who lives in a migrant’s camp in Calais, France and lost his entire family in the war. Abdul was originally from Baghdad, Iraq, and he fled from Baghdad and traveled for four months and crossed six countries until he reached somewhat of a dead end in “The Jungle” of Calais, France. Cheslav is another main character. Cheslav hails from Russia. He lived in an orphanage, and he was put into military school against his will. He was transferred to Moscow because he had an extremely impressive talent in playing the trumpet. Cheslav escaped because he did not think there was place for him and his exceptional talent in his native Russia. Rosalia is another main character. Rosalia used her cunning skills to escape from the sex business that she was tricked into joining. Rosalia, just as Abdul and Cheslav, fled their native countries in order to pursue better lives elsewhere. Jonah is the ten year old nephew of the nasty man whose England-bound boat they are riding on. Abdul, Cheslav, Rosalia, and Jonah all meet aboard ship. Abdul, Cheslav, and Rosalia sneaked on the ship.
Abdul made friends with Kalil. They both had lots in common, such as music, and they seemed to have formed a healthy friendship. They both planned to flee to Calais, France together; however Kalil was beaten to death right in front of Abdul, while insulting Kalil with homophobic slurs. This is a turning point in the book because Kalil’s death seems to motivate Abdul to carry on with his plans and to never give up in honor of Kalil. The author seems to create a way to connect the reader with Abdul. Ellis can somehow almost make the reader feel what Abdul feels, and what Abdul feels is not good, which is why No Safe Place is such a heart-wrenching book. Once getting onto the ship, Abdul starts to feel as though his life is finally headed in the right direction. This will not be the case, however, as Abdul will very soon learn. .Abdul’s life arguably gets worse while on the ship due to the many conflicts and great mutual distrust amongst the passengers aboard the ship. Abdul remains hidden on the ship until the ship encounters stormy, rough seas A drug smuggler who is on the ship creates constant problems, and he eventually lashes out and puts all of the passengers’ lives at risk. There is a fight, and the smuggler is thrown overboard. The grim circumstances force the main characters to work together, no matter how troubled or different their pasts were. The main characters go from being nearly completely independent from the time they got on the ship, but by the time the voyage was coming to a close they almost became a family that cared for each other. The main characters must overcome even more obstacles and differences, but they eventually come together and help to get the ship to land before it sank, which may be the only bright spot in the entire book. Once the ship reached England, their long, tough journey came to a close.
Deborah Ellis uses her special writing abilities to create a bond between the reader and the main characters, especially Abdul. That is what makes No Safe Place such a hard-hitting novel. Even though this book is fictional, it is realistic fiction so a journey very similar to Abdul’s very easily could have already happened in the real world, which makes the story even harder to believe. I would definitely recommend this book to readers who are not light hearted and who want a book that is very adventurous, though it can be very depressing at the same time. I should definitely check out some more of Deborah Ellis’s books.
EXTRA: This is a link to a YouTube video that gives you a rough idea of the living conditions of “The Jungle” in Calais France. The place shown in the video is the exact same migrant camp that Abdul stayed in.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SFspv...
Sorry that the book title is not underlined. It doesn't seem to transfer from Microsoft Word to Goodreads. I hope you understand.
August 30, 2012
Story Decription:
Groundwood Books Ltd|September 1, 2010|Trade Paperback|ISBN: 978-0-88899-974-0
Recommended for ages 14 and up – 208 pages.
Finalist for the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Award
Orphaned and plagued with the grief of losing everyone he loved, fifteen-year-old Abdul has made a long, fraught journey from his war-torn home in Baghdad, only to end up in The Jungle – the squalid, makeshift migrant community in Calais, France.
When an altercation at the soup kitchen ends up with him accidentally stabbing a policeman, Abdul has to flee, and in desperation he takes a spot in a small boat heading to England. A sudden skirmish leaves the boat stalled in the middle of the Channel, the pilot dead, and four young people remaining – Abdul, Rosalia, a Romani girl who has escaped from the white slave trade; Cheslav, gone AWOL from a Russian military school; and Jonah, the boat pilot’s ten-year-old nephew.
The four of them end up hijacking a yacht and, despite their fear and mistrust, they form a kind of makeshift family. And as the authorities close in on them, they find refuge in an unusual place – a child’s secret cave on the English coast.
My Review:
Abdul is a Kurdish refugee from Iraq who at fifteen-years of age has lost everyone in his family through the war and terror that has plagued his homeland. He meets a boy is own age and they become fast friends, both enjoying playing guitar and loving The Beatles. One day, Kalil, is beaten to death in front of Abdul’s very eyes and he vowed then to go to England to Penny Lane in honour of Kalil.
Abdul first ends up in France where he meets an unlikely group of kids who oddly enough end up making a sort of makeshift family. Rosalia, is a Romani girl who has escaped from the white slave trade but she is one tough cookie; Cheslav, is AWOL from a Russian military school and has an attitude like no other; and Jonah, the ten-year-old nephew of the horrible man whose small boat they are on in France escaping to England.
When Abdul boards the smuggler’s boat with the other kids he really thinks his life is finally heading in the right direction, but that is not to be. When a storm suddenly blows up things escalate quickly and become out-of-hand. From here the story really takes off and you’ll find yourself reading faster and faster because you can’t wait to find out what is going to happen next.
NO SAFE PLACE was a sad story but showed the strength, endurance, and courage of a group of young people who had lived rough and tough lives but came out in the end as whole people. I loved it!!
Groundwood Books Ltd|September 1, 2010|Trade Paperback|ISBN: 978-0-88899-974-0
Recommended for ages 14 and up – 208 pages.
Finalist for the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Award
Orphaned and plagued with the grief of losing everyone he loved, fifteen-year-old Abdul has made a long, fraught journey from his war-torn home in Baghdad, only to end up in The Jungle – the squalid, makeshift migrant community in Calais, France.
When an altercation at the soup kitchen ends up with him accidentally stabbing a policeman, Abdul has to flee, and in desperation he takes a spot in a small boat heading to England. A sudden skirmish leaves the boat stalled in the middle of the Channel, the pilot dead, and four young people remaining – Abdul, Rosalia, a Romani girl who has escaped from the white slave trade; Cheslav, gone AWOL from a Russian military school; and Jonah, the boat pilot’s ten-year-old nephew.
The four of them end up hijacking a yacht and, despite their fear and mistrust, they form a kind of makeshift family. And as the authorities close in on them, they find refuge in an unusual place – a child’s secret cave on the English coast.
My Review:
Abdul is a Kurdish refugee from Iraq who at fifteen-years of age has lost everyone in his family through the war and terror that has plagued his homeland. He meets a boy is own age and they become fast friends, both enjoying playing guitar and loving The Beatles. One day, Kalil, is beaten to death in front of Abdul’s very eyes and he vowed then to go to England to Penny Lane in honour of Kalil.
Abdul first ends up in France where he meets an unlikely group of kids who oddly enough end up making a sort of makeshift family. Rosalia, is a Romani girl who has escaped from the white slave trade but she is one tough cookie; Cheslav, is AWOL from a Russian military school and has an attitude like no other; and Jonah, the ten-year-old nephew of the horrible man whose small boat they are on in France escaping to England.
When Abdul boards the smuggler’s boat with the other kids he really thinks his life is finally heading in the right direction, but that is not to be. When a storm suddenly blows up things escalate quickly and become out-of-hand. From here the story really takes off and you’ll find yourself reading faster and faster because you can’t wait to find out what is going to happen next.
NO SAFE PLACE was a sad story but showed the strength, endurance, and courage of a group of young people who had lived rough and tough lives but came out in the end as whole people. I loved it!!
October 21, 2010
I’ve talked on this blog about how books can make us feel like global citizens. I love that about books, and I love books that, despite stark, real, and sometimes sad depictions of real life in other parts of the world, let me live in other peoples’ shoes for a while.
I picked up NO SAFE PLACE by Deborah Ellis last week and absolutely couldn’t put it down.
It’s the story of Abdul, a Kurdish refugee from Iraq. At fifteen years old he has already lost most of his loved ones to war and terror, and has fled to a small refugee camp in France. His journey has only just begun, however. France is no safehaven, despite the efforts of local volunteers. There are riots among the refugees, who fight over things like food and shelter, both of which are in short supply. The local police force aren’t exactly welcoming, and Abdul lives in fear of deportation. But he has enough money to get to England, if he can only find a way.
When he boards a smuggler’s ship with four other teens, he is pretty sure things might finally be looking up. The smuggler is downright vile, but he hopes that within a night they’ll be across the Channel and he’ll be history. But things don’t go as planned — there’s a storm, the tiny ship is set off-course, and there’s a fight for everyone’s lives as the smuggler becomes violent and one of the kids falls sick. Abdul knows he has to find a way to England, though, and the choices he makes have not been — and will not be — easy or even pleasant. Slowly, he is able to crack the shells of two of the other teens on board: a Romani girl and a Russian boy, who both have pasts filled with abuse, neglect, and poverty. And the young nephew of the smuggler, an English citizen but as equally outcast as his foreign companions, might manage to keep the group from completely falling apart.
Told partially in flashbacks, this story humanizes the people that we often think of as “other” — the kids and teens who have been nearly lost to political struggles throughout the world. The kids who are dealing with things that “don’t happen to us.” Abdul’s voice is strong but real — a great tool not only for telling a story, but for showing us that even in times of struggle kids play guitar, fall in love, make friends. I loved the subtleties of Abdul’s story, and his strength and determination are something we can all take to heart. I hope you’ll go looking for a copy of NO SAFE PLACE soon. Anyone interested in books on world politics and “real life” teen stories is sure to enjoy it.
I picked up NO SAFE PLACE by Deborah Ellis last week and absolutely couldn’t put it down.
It’s the story of Abdul, a Kurdish refugee from Iraq. At fifteen years old he has already lost most of his loved ones to war and terror, and has fled to a small refugee camp in France. His journey has only just begun, however. France is no safehaven, despite the efforts of local volunteers. There are riots among the refugees, who fight over things like food and shelter, both of which are in short supply. The local police force aren’t exactly welcoming, and Abdul lives in fear of deportation. But he has enough money to get to England, if he can only find a way.
When he boards a smuggler’s ship with four other teens, he is pretty sure things might finally be looking up. The smuggler is downright vile, but he hopes that within a night they’ll be across the Channel and he’ll be history. But things don’t go as planned — there’s a storm, the tiny ship is set off-course, and there’s a fight for everyone’s lives as the smuggler becomes violent and one of the kids falls sick. Abdul knows he has to find a way to England, though, and the choices he makes have not been — and will not be — easy or even pleasant. Slowly, he is able to crack the shells of two of the other teens on board: a Romani girl and a Russian boy, who both have pasts filled with abuse, neglect, and poverty. And the young nephew of the smuggler, an English citizen but as equally outcast as his foreign companions, might manage to keep the group from completely falling apart.
Told partially in flashbacks, this story humanizes the people that we often think of as “other” — the kids and teens who have been nearly lost to political struggles throughout the world. The kids who are dealing with things that “don’t happen to us.” Abdul’s voice is strong but real — a great tool not only for telling a story, but for showing us that even in times of struggle kids play guitar, fall in love, make friends. I loved the subtleties of Abdul’s story, and his strength and determination are something we can all take to heart. I hope you’ll go looking for a copy of NO SAFE PLACE soon. Anyone interested in books on world politics and “real life” teen stories is sure to enjoy it.
Read
December 3, 20151. I chose “No safe place” because I like reading stories about the war and knowing what all different countries had to do to escape the war and survive. I had just read a book that was by Deborah Ellis called “On two feet and wings” and it was about the Iran Iraq war, I really liked it and wanted to read something similar. I asked one of my teachers if she knows any book about escaping the war and they had shown me the book “No safe place”. I read the blurb and instantly felt that I had to read that book.
2. When I got to the middle of the book I really started to focus on what was really going on. At this point Abdul has gone on so many adventures and has met so many people that are helping him get to where he needs to go. Abdul sets on a massive journey to go to England so that he can find a new home. Abdul had left his home with no one, he had lost his Father and his brother in the war. I have just passed the bit were Abdul, Rosalia, Cheslav and Jonah boarded a boat that was owned by a smuggler at the north coast of France to reach England. But as soon as they boarded, they got lost in the sea. The smuggler was abusing his nephew assistant. Abdul, Rosalia, Cheslav and Jonah didn’t feel safe so they decided that at night while the smuggler is smoking his cigarette, they would push him overboard.
3. No Safe Place by Deborah Ellis is a great action, adventure book. Three teenagers go on a journey trying to get to England, but they have to cross the English Channel. In this book the author puts you in their place, homeless teenagers looking for a place that they can live, and a better life. My opinion is that it was a fantastic book. I loved how the book would flash to their lives as kids and how they got there. I really enjoyed this book due to the style that the author (Deborah Ellis) wrote in. The author wrote this book in a motif theme way. The story has sections of flashbacks that slowly begin to explain each characters rough past, and how they ended up in there homeless situation in the first place. The only downside of this book is that I thought the author ended the story too early. I couldn’t put this book down, I kept feeling the need to know what was going to happen next. Every night I would read at least two chapters before I went to bed because it had such a good story line. I have recommended this book to lots of my friends and I hope they read it.
2. When I got to the middle of the book I really started to focus on what was really going on. At this point Abdul has gone on so many adventures and has met so many people that are helping him get to where he needs to go. Abdul sets on a massive journey to go to England so that he can find a new home. Abdul had left his home with no one, he had lost his Father and his brother in the war. I have just passed the bit were Abdul, Rosalia, Cheslav and Jonah boarded a boat that was owned by a smuggler at the north coast of France to reach England. But as soon as they boarded, they got lost in the sea. The smuggler was abusing his nephew assistant. Abdul, Rosalia, Cheslav and Jonah didn’t feel safe so they decided that at night while the smuggler is smoking his cigarette, they would push him overboard.
3. No Safe Place by Deborah Ellis is a great action, adventure book. Three teenagers go on a journey trying to get to England, but they have to cross the English Channel. In this book the author puts you in their place, homeless teenagers looking for a place that they can live, and a better life. My opinion is that it was a fantastic book. I loved how the book would flash to their lives as kids and how they got there. I really enjoyed this book due to the style that the author (Deborah Ellis) wrote in. The author wrote this book in a motif theme way. The story has sections of flashbacks that slowly begin to explain each characters rough past, and how they ended up in there homeless situation in the first place. The only downside of this book is that I thought the author ended the story too early. I couldn’t put this book down, I kept feeling the need to know what was going to happen next. Every night I would read at least two chapters before I went to bed because it had such a good story line. I have recommended this book to lots of my friends and I hope they read it.
January 19, 2012
Abdul is an illegal immigrant from Iraq who seeks to go to England in search of a better place to live after his father and brothers were killed by the bombings of 2003 and his mother's death at the cause of a religious militant.
Cheslav is a Russian who is also an illegal immigrant, who escaped from the Army Cadet Music School in Moscow, where he wanted to escape and go to Australia where his mother had eloped.
Rosalia is a Jew whose grandfather escaped the Nazis, and Rosalia was transferred to the very same concentration camp where the Jews were first captured, she has escaped is an illegal immigrant hoping to go to England.
They find themselves together when they are on a ship hoping to go to England with a smuggler. But when the smuggler is overboard and dead, they find themselves trying to survive with the smuggler's nephew.
I started reading this book because it was the only other Red Maple book available other than Haunting Violet. I finished this book because near the beginning, there were some flashbacks of Abdul's past, and I wondered if there would be flashbacks of the other people on board. I found this book really touching, especially when the Uzbek went overboard to save Jonah, the smuggler's nephew, and he later died of (probably) the cold. I'm pretty sure that most people wouldn't risk their lives to save a stranger-I know that I probably won't.
I would recommend this book to Gabrielle because she is also in the Red Maple Reading Club, and this is one of the few books that are really realistic and touching. Maybe I'm wrong but Deborah Ellis likes to write about subjects that most other authors don't often write about and in this case, human smuggling. I think that Deborah Ellis' books are an eyeopener for teens who are transitioning to adult books.
Cheslav is a Russian who is also an illegal immigrant, who escaped from the Army Cadet Music School in Moscow, where he wanted to escape and go to Australia where his mother had eloped.
Rosalia is a Jew whose grandfather escaped the Nazis, and Rosalia was transferred to the very same concentration camp where the Jews were first captured, she has escaped is an illegal immigrant hoping to go to England.
They find themselves together when they are on a ship hoping to go to England with a smuggler. But when the smuggler is overboard and dead, they find themselves trying to survive with the smuggler's nephew.
I started reading this book because it was the only other Red Maple book available other than Haunting Violet. I finished this book because near the beginning, there were some flashbacks of Abdul's past, and I wondered if there would be flashbacks of the other people on board. I found this book really touching, especially when the Uzbek went overboard to save Jonah, the smuggler's nephew, and he later died of (probably) the cold. I'm pretty sure that most people wouldn't risk their lives to save a stranger-I know that I probably won't.
I would recommend this book to Gabrielle because she is also in the Red Maple Reading Club, and this is one of the few books that are really realistic and touching. Maybe I'm wrong but Deborah Ellis likes to write about subjects that most other authors don't often write about and in this case, human smuggling. I think that Deborah Ellis' books are an eyeopener for teens who are transitioning to adult books.
December 7, 2010
If you've followed headlines at all, you know that refugees from various parts of the world go through hell, and a bunch are kids. Ellis's short contemporary follows three orphans--one each from Iraq, Russia and Roma--thrust together purely by chance and circumstance. The plot follows their flight and unlikely friendship. The writing is very spare and a little understated, which is somewhat problematic. More mature, socially-aware teens will probably find this a tad simplistic, and there have been other, stronger adult books that look at the same issue (Tess Gerritsen's fabulous Vanish, one of the better installments in her long-running Rizzoli-Isles series, jumps to mind). Still, most teens do not follow headlines, haven't a clue what kids without guardians or parents really go through, and are—face it—a little complacent. This story manages to present its facts baldly and without excessive moralizing and reminds readers: there are lots more kids in the world who would happily trade an iPhone for a full belly and a safe place to sleep. Just depends on your perspective. Got a teen looking for a social agenda? This is a good place to start. Recommended for ages 13-up.
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