What do you think?
Rate this book
Wherever I Go
A hopeful and timely picture book about a spirited little girl living in a refugee camp.
Of all her friends, Abia has been at the Shimelba Refugee Camp the longest—seven years, four months, and sixteen days. Papa says that’s too long and they need a forever home. Until then, though, Abia has something important to do. Be a queen.
Sometimes she’s a noisy queen, banging on her drum as she and Mama wait in the long line for rice to cook for dinner. Sometimes she’s a quiet queen, cuddling her baby cousin to sleep while Auntie is away collecting firewood. And sometimes, when Papa talks hopefully of their future, forever home, Abia is a little nervous. Forever homes are in strange and faraway places—will she still be a queen?
Filled with hope, love, and respect, Wherever I Go is a timely tribute to the strength and courage of refugees around the world.
Of all her friends, Abia has been at the Shimelba Refugee Camp the longest—seven years, four months, and sixteen days. Papa says that’s too long and they need a forever home. Until then, though, Abia has something important to do. Be a queen.
Sometimes she’s a noisy queen, banging on her drum as she and Mama wait in the long line for rice to cook for dinner. Sometimes she’s a quiet queen, cuddling her baby cousin to sleep while Auntie is away collecting firewood. And sometimes, when Papa talks hopefully of their future, forever home, Abia is a little nervous. Forever homes are in strange and faraway places—will she still be a queen?
Filled with hope, love, and respect, Wherever I Go is a timely tribute to the strength and courage of refugees around the world.
32 pages, Hardcover
Published April 21, 2020
3 people are currently reading
185 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
March 7, 2020
What is a refugee and what does it mean to be displaced? What does it mean to lose everything and leave not just your home but your country because of forces out of your control? How does one survive under such a situation? Why do children need to learn about concepts and experiences if they are hefty and difficult to fathom even for grown ups?
For many people around the world, and within our own borders, displacement is the reality. As detailed in the book’s author note, about half of the 68 million displaced people in the world are children. “Wherever I Go” is a realistic depiction of a fictional little girl named Abia, who as a baby, fled with her parents from their war torn homeland and found shelter in a refugee camp in northern Ethiopia. They had been living there for over 7 years.
The detailed and sympathetic illustrations depict Abia maintaining joy and humanity in the refugee camp. She sings as she pumps water and plays the drums as she waits in a long line for rice and oil. As she wears a “crown” her father wove for her and helps her mother with manual labor, she feels like a strong queen. Children will notice that Abia is physically getting older throughout the story. After many years adrift in the camp, her family is finally able to immigrate to another country. There, they can build a permanent home, where assimilating and a new story of survival awaits but Aria’s spirit and strength will follow and help her thrive.
“Wherever I Go” will open the reader’s eyes to another reality, which though seemingly faraway, is tied to our own. It is child-centered and lovingly crafted from the words to the illustrations. In the U.S., where many of our ancestors as well as our current neighbors were displaced, it fills a much needed space in the classroom and library shelf.
July 12, 2020
"Forever homes are in strange and faraway lands...wherever I go, I'll still be a queen."
Overall, I'm happy to see a book that portrays black refugees, as I think that demographic is typically overlooked/ignored in the media/society. This provides an appropriate portrayal of the refugee struggle for young readers.
After reading THE GIRL WHO SMILED BEADS, this children's book version of the refugee experience was a stark contrast. Like the award-winning film Life is Beautiful, WHEREVER I GO offers a euphemistic, positive image of bleak circumstances.
The author obviously understands the refugee experience, as evidenced by her years helping in refugee camps, and I applaud her children's book.
Overall, I'm happy to see a book that portrays black refugees, as I think that demographic is typically overlooked/ignored in the media/society. This provides an appropriate portrayal of the refugee struggle for young readers.
After reading THE GIRL WHO SMILED BEADS, this children's book version of the refugee experience was a stark contrast. Like the award-winning film Life is Beautiful, WHEREVER I GO offers a euphemistic, positive image of bleak circumstances.
The author obviously understands the refugee experience, as evidenced by her years helping in refugee camps, and I applaud her children's book.
February 26, 2020
Oh, this book. I gave it five stars, but it deserves at least ten hearts. <3 The seven-year-old protagonist anoints herself "Queen Abia of the Shimelba Camp" and recounts her day-to-day activities of carrying water, watching her baby cousin, and sleeping on a mat with equal amounts of innocence, heart, and spunk. Exquisite, lyrical writing by Mary Wagley Copp includes a first-person voice that is at once believable, informative, and inspiring. This is not a book about pain; it's a book about finding joy despite unfortunate circumstances. Immersive, emotional paintings by illustrator Munir D. Muhammed send the book soaring by its hopeful end. Have tissues handy.
Themes: refugees, resettlement, migration, and human rights.
Themes: refugees, resettlement, migration, and human rights.
February 5, 2020
This is a story that needs to be told. It's powerful, heartwarming, and brilliant. The art is also superb. It is a testament that illustrates how in the most difficult of environments, the family and human spirit can thrive and overcome.
December 12, 2020
Pair this with When Stars Are Scattered.
March 11, 2020
Wherever I Go shows us what a refugee camp looks like from one particularly resilient child’s perspective. Abia has been in the camp for more than seven years, and it’s the only life she knows. For her father, it’s seven years too many, but for Abia, it's just home. Abia copes with the challenging environment by imagining herself to be a queen of the camp and incorporates all of her daily experiences into this role. The book holds a sense of hope as Abia is still able to be a child despite the conditions around her. When she has to confront her biggest fear – leaving the only home she remembers in order to resettle with her family – she brings with her the resilience she has learned from living in the refugee camp. The illustrations manage to blend the tough reality with Abia’s positive way of seeing the world around her, and the level of detail made me want to pore over the pictures many times. Teachers, parents, and children can use the author’s list of resources and other books listed at the end to do more research on refugee camps and resettlement. This is such an important and timely book to help bring more understanding and empathy to issues around refugees and immigration.
March 8, 2020
A stunning book that tackles the tough topic of refugee resettlement with extraordinary grace. The young protagonist's character is developed authentically and poignantly. We're drawn to her and rooting for her from the get-go. Her journey is our journey. She shows strength and bravery amid danger and uncertainty. The illustrations are at once somber and hopeful. This eye-opening book from debut author Mary Wagley Copp is a must-read for our time.
July 23, 2020
On her small shoulders, Abia carries the weight of water and adult responsibilities, the weight of standing on long lines for oil and rice and adult worries, the immense weight of a painful past and uncertain future. Despite her circumstances, the ever-resilient Abia names herself the “Queen of the Shimelba Refugee Camp,” wears a crown of Acacia made by her father, and is crowned with imagination, optimism, and perseverance. The powerful transition from the Shimelba Refugee Camp to a school in the United States brims with hope and teaches students to be welcoming and empathetic to everyone in our diverse communities. Munir Mohammed’s illustrations do a masterful job of accurately and compassionately depicting the conditions of the refugee camp.
I recommend this book as the beginning to a conversation about the reality of refugee camps that is continued with the reading list at the end of the book. The back matter is a wonderful way to contextualize Abia’s story and to empower readers to learn more and to understand civic engagement.
I recommend this book as the beginning to a conversation about the reality of refugee camps that is continued with the reading list at the end of the book. The back matter is a wonderful way to contextualize Abia’s story and to empower readers to learn more and to understand civic engagement.
September 13, 2020
What I loved most about this book is that Abia is a normal relatable child living a normal relatable life in extraordinary circumstances. I think many times people in the U.S. see pictures of refugees and feel a sense of separation from them. Their experiences are foreign to us. But any child in any part of the world will relate to Abia’s feelings, her imagination, her playfulness, and her desires. Who doesn’t want to be a queen, after all? In the process of getting to know and like Abia, they will learn a little about what life is like in a refugee camp, and what it’s like to pick up and start over when it’s time to resettle in a new home.
The illustrations by debut illustrator, Munir D. Mohammed, are also stunning, immersive, and relatable. They give us a lovely and intimate glimpse into the lives of Ethiopian refugees. Munir is a muralist and fine artist, and that background shows in his rich, colorful, and life-like illustration style.
*I was gifted a free PDF copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
The illustrations by debut illustrator, Munir D. Mohammed, are also stunning, immersive, and relatable. They give us a lovely and intimate glimpse into the lives of Ethiopian refugees. Munir is a muralist and fine artist, and that background shows in his rich, colorful, and life-like illustration style.
*I was gifted a free PDF copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
February 6, 2020
Wherever I Go is a beautiful way to begin a discussion on refugees and what it might be like for a family to live in a temporary refugee camp and then to resettle in a faraway place.
This book is a study in contrast. From the wonderful illustrations that splash a dusty brown landscape with vibrantly colored clothes to the everyday chores attacked by young Abia with a regal and queenly attitude. Abia’s story is a testament to the human spirit that can endure great hardship and enormous change and yet still remain hopeful, courageous and in the case of Abia – royal.
Add this book to your classroom library and encourage children to recognize the stories that immigrants bring. Wherever I Go is a story of resettlement, migration and human rights presented in a relatable and proud manner.
This book is a study in contrast. From the wonderful illustrations that splash a dusty brown landscape with vibrantly colored clothes to the everyday chores attacked by young Abia with a regal and queenly attitude. Abia’s story is a testament to the human spirit that can endure great hardship and enormous change and yet still remain hopeful, courageous and in the case of Abia – royal.
Add this book to your classroom library and encourage children to recognize the stories that immigrants bring. Wherever I Go is a story of resettlement, migration and human rights presented in a relatable and proud manner.
February 22, 2020
Mary Wagley Copp's debut picture book is an eye opening look at what life is like living in a refugee camp. The story is told from the point of view of a young and imaginative girl named Abia, whose strength and perseverance will inspire readers. Munir D. Mohammed's beautifully rendered paintings detail the daily struggle of what many readers may take for granted and allow an appreciation for the difficult reality of refugee life. An important book for young readers, this book provides an opportunity to open up a conversation and bring gratitude to the forefront of their minds.
March 5, 2020
WHEREVER I GO is a beautiful book that puts the focus on displaced people, especially children, who number in the millions. It depicts the struggles and sadness that refugees face on a daily basis, but it also shows the joy and resilience of children being children, no matter their circumstances. An author's note adds important context to the story. This is an excellent book for classrooms and homes alike that will help open eyes and start a discussion about the people across the world who are driven from their homes for a variety of reasons.
September 30, 2020
An excellent book about a young girl's life in a refugee camp, and a new beginning years later in the United States told from a first-person perspective. The narrator's self-possessed outlook and unflinching optimism stand in stark contrast to her surroundings in the refugee camp. Her eventual departure from the camp and travel to the US gives the reader an idea of what so many refugees experience as they arrive in a new place that is completely different from what they have ever known.
The author's note at the end and bibliography of books about refugees and resettlement is a great resource and perfect way to use this book as a launching point into discussing and exploring further.
The author's note at the end and bibliography of books about refugees and resettlement is a great resource and perfect way to use this book as a launching point into discussing and exploring further.
April 23, 2020
WHEREVER I GO celebrates the resilience of one little girl, Abia, who has lived her whole life in a refugee camp. This book is less about the politics of why the family has lived there for so long and more about their life. Since Abia has lived there since she was a baby, she’s Queen and shows the many ways she is queen while showing her living her life, happy and thriving, despite the conditions. Abia’s Papa talks of the day when they will finally get a “forever home.” But Abia is unsure about this because she’ll have to leave everything behind—everything but her stories.
The book is larger than the standard format and is beautifully illustrated by Munir D. Mohammed. He used muted colors throughout, except Abia’s bright blue dress, which helps the reader focus on her on each spread.
Back matter explains more about refugee camps, organizations that support them and additional books to explore. Highly recommended for parents and teachers to use to “springboard” into further investigation about refugee camps, the people who live in them and/or about people who have newly settled in their own communities.
The book is larger than the standard format and is beautifully illustrated by Munir D. Mohammed. He used muted colors throughout, except Abia’s bright blue dress, which helps the reader focus on her on each spread.
Back matter explains more about refugee camps, organizations that support them and additional books to explore. Highly recommended for parents and teachers to use to “springboard” into further investigation about refugee camps, the people who live in them and/or about people who have newly settled in their own communities.
May 22, 2020
This is a beautiful story. At it's heart, this book is about focusing on what you have and all you can be, even in very difficult times. It's about carrying the stories that define us, and yet bravely embracing the new, and weaving a common thread between the two. This story will be very welcome to children everywhere but most especially to children who have been displaced because of circumstances far beyond their control. I just love it. And I know that children who grew up in refugee camps will take special comfort in reading their experience in this masterful narrative.
October 11, 2020
Beautifully written. Stunning illustrations. Sure to squeeze your heart. This new picture book is a must read and I would highly recommend it for the older end of the picture book audience. It features a young girl, Abia, living with her family at the Shimelba Refugee Camp. Abia has crowned herself queen and shows the strength and courage so many refugees are forced to have when they have been displaced and lost everything.
December 17, 2020
This is the story of Abia, a young girl living in a refugee camp for over seven years. Through her eyes, we see what that's like: the tents, having to haul water, sleeping on a mat. Later we see her adapt to life in a new country, making friends, going to school, and thriving. This is a story of hope and resilience. Though it's a fictional account, it represents the real experience of many children in many different camps. An author's note and suggested readings are included.
September 10, 2020
"Mama says we'll have our stories, though. Wherever we go." Gorgeous illustrations! Fantastic book for young children to introduce them to the stories of life in a refugee camp. This would be a great companion to the middle grade graphic novel "When Stars are Scattered" Contains a list of picture, middle grade and YA books in the back that are relevant to refugees and resettlement.
August 22, 2020
This is a fantastic book!
September 22, 2020
2020 Book Riot Read Harder Challenge: Read a picture book with a human main character from a marginalized community
January 11, 2021
Wherever I Go should be in every K-3 grade classroom to open the door to understanding the plight of the world’s refugees.
March 25, 2020
This is a lovely and important book, and a recommended read for children who have questions about the refugee experience but are simply too young for books like The Good Braider or The Girl Who Smiled Beads. As a school librarian in a state with a significant number of refugees from Somalia and Sudan, I'd also recommend it to teachers as a way for young English Language Learners to see their own experiences reflected in a book.
The beginning of the story strikes a balance between statement of facts and a child's imagination:
"I am Queen Abia of the Shimelba Camp. Of all my friends, I have been here the longest--- seven years, four months, and sixteen days. That's what Papa says.
'Too long,' he adds.
I think it's the perfect amount of time to become a queen."
From there, the reader walks the camp along with Abia, seeing her daily experiences and how they are both the same as and different from their own. And, finally, Abia resettles in what is presumably the United States. Importantly, she keeps her vision of herself as a queen throughout--- and her belief in this version of herself speaks to the resilience of children.
The end includes an author's note, as well as an excellent list of other picture books on refugees and resettlement--- a great resource for educators looking to expand this type of book into a longer unit of study.
The beginning of the story strikes a balance between statement of facts and a child's imagination:
"I am Queen Abia of the Shimelba Camp. Of all my friends, I have been here the longest--- seven years, four months, and sixteen days. That's what Papa says.
'Too long,' he adds.
I think it's the perfect amount of time to become a queen."
From there, the reader walks the camp along with Abia, seeing her daily experiences and how they are both the same as and different from their own. And, finally, Abia resettles in what is presumably the United States. Importantly, she keeps her vision of herself as a queen throughout--- and her belief in this version of herself speaks to the resilience of children.
The end includes an author's note, as well as an excellent list of other picture books on refugees and resettlement--- a great resource for educators looking to expand this type of book into a longer unit of study.
March 28, 2020
Author Mary Wagley Copp creates a resilient, imaginative, and confident character in Abia, a girl who has been in the Shimelba Camp in Northern Ethiopia for most of her life. Young readers will find they share much in common with Abia. She plays with friends, pretends, pounds on her drum (sometimes too loudly), and worries about moving to a new home—a “forever home”—in a different country. Exquisitely rendered, realistic illustrations by Munir D. Mohammed give a glimpse of what Abia’s family life is like as she awaits resettlement. An author’s note, plus an extensive list of recommended reading (picture books through YA), encourages further research into the plight of the world’s 68 million refugees. Beautifully written and illustrated, this book is a wonderful introduction to the refugee experience as seen through the eyes of a child.
April 6, 2020
A child’s journey from war-torn country to resettlement camp to peaceful new country. It’s a lot to process, but this book does it with grace so even the youngest readers can understand what it means to be a refugee. The main character is resilient and relatable. This book is a great introduction to a difficult topic.
July 23, 2020
Abia declares herself queen of her refugee camp. It is the only life she's ever known. With playfulness and imagination, Abia wears her crown, marches with her soldiers, and grows strong from pounding cassava. She is a queen in all circumstances, even when her family is resettled in a strange and unfamiliar country. Rich illustrations highlight the hardship and hope of refugees around the world.
July 27, 2020
Wherever I Go is a powerful book shining a spotlight on refugee camps and home displacement. While this is a fictional tale of a girl named Abia, refugee camps are a reality throughout the world. Filled with strength, resolve, hopes, and dreams, Wherever I Go is needed for children to see the world outside of their community. Highly recommend.
April 14, 2020
A beautiful story that gives the reader a glimpse of life in a refugee camp. The story follows a charismatic, feisty young girl as we learn about her everyday life, a quick flashback of how they became refugees, and her dream of finding a forever home. A wonderful story for curious minds.
Read
June 22, 2020Bringing an experience of a child refugee to life, this gorgeous picture book concentrates on the small joys and confidences of a young refugee girl while not denying the hardships of refugee lives. It's a book that will open children's eyes to the experiences of displaced people around the world.
April 22, 2020
Add to your refugee and immigrant text sets.
June 16, 2020
An inspiring look at a refugee camp through the eyes of a little girl. The illustrations are wonderful and bring texture and depth to the story. Very well written!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews