Refugee: The Graphic Novel

by Alan Gratz, Syd Fini (Illustrator)

Genres: Graphic Novels

176 pages, Paperback

Published October 9, 2025

About the author

Alan Gratz is the bestselling author of a number of novels for young readers. His 2017 novel Refugee has spent more than two years on the New York Times bestseller list, and is the winner of 14 state awards. Its other accolades include the Sydney Taylor Book Award, the National Jewish Book Award, the Cybils Middle Grade Fiction Award, a Charlotte Huck Award Honor, and a Malka Penn Award for Human Rights Honor. Refugee was also a Global Read Aloud Book for 2018.

Alan’s novel Grenade debuted at number three on the New York Times bestseller list, and his most recent book, Allies, debuted at number two on the list and received four starred reviews. His other books include Prisoner B-3087, which was a YALSA Best Fiction for Young Readers pick and winner of eight state awards; Projekt 1065, a Kirkus Best Middle Grade Book of 2016 and winner of five state awards; Code of Honor, a YALSA Quick Pick for Young Readers; and Ban This Book, which was featured by Whoopi Goldberg on The View.

Alan has traveled extensively to talk about his books, appearing at schools and book festivals in 39 states and a half-dozen countries, including Brazil, Canada, China, Indonesia, Japan, and Switzerland, and has been a Writer in Residence at Tokyo’s American School in Japan, the James Thurber House in Columbus, Ohio, and the Jakarta Intercultural School in Indonesia.

Alan was born and raised in Knoxville, Tennessee, home of the 1982 World’s Fair. After a carefree but humid childhood, Alan attended the University of Tennessee, where he earned a College Scholars degree with a specialization in creative writing, and, later, a Master’s degree in English education. He now lives with his family in Asheville, North Carolina, where he enjoys playing games, eating pizza, and, perhaps not too surprisingly, reading books.

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really, really important book.

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've never read any of Alan Gratz's historical fiction novels (clearly I need to rectify that) so I thought I'd try out this new graphic novel adaptation of perhaps his most popular book, Refugee. I knew it was going to pack an emotional punch, and it definitely did, but they're such important stories to tell. I love how everything connected at the end.

[Aspiring · Rating 5 out of 5]

We needed this adaptation! I was so excited to see this at our local book fair. This was a very good graphic novel adaptation of the original. I felt that all the key events and details were represented in the art and dialogue. I think everyone should read this. It is a very realistic depiction of refugee experiences around the world, and includes many details that I think wouldn't occur to most people about the ways that refugees are vulnerable and how desperate their circumstances are. I hope that it will open people's eyes and their hearts, and that it will encourage everyone who reads it to extend empathy, compassion, and help to people seeking asylum from violence now and in the future. We can treat refugees better than we have in the past. We can and should do better in the present. I hope that everyone who reads this is moved to action to support leaders and policies that welcome and support all people fleeing violence and tragedy. This broke my heart a little, especially the end. I hope it does the same for others. I also hope this encourages readers to explore non-fiction graphic novels dealing with similar topics like Maus (about the Holocaust) and Muhammad Najem War Reporter (about Syria). If there are any others you would also recommend, please share them in the comments! Thank you for reading!

[Cindi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful. Emotional... hard to read in some places, but too important not to. I have learned a lot through these stories and was reminded of much I already knew by the first one. This tore at my heart yet the stories are ones that need to be told. Stories that need to be known...

Please read, hear, and know. We can't let the people these stories represent remain invisible.

[Lynette · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t think a graphic novel is a good choice for me. I felt like it jumped between stories too much and it just didn’t draw me in. Illustrations were great but I am a detail person. I need to read the novel …..

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Obviously not as detailed as the chapter book version, but still an excellent read.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic new way to experience the brilliance of Alan Gratz as he brings history to life for young readers.

[Malyn Bannister · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as powerful as the chapter version, but still good!

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great graphic novel adaptation of the original story--there were some panels that were tricky to see which way to read, but I figured it out after awhile!

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hadn't read the original but this was a powerful telling of important stories. Compassionate and captivating.