The Marsh Birds

by Eva Sallis

As twelve-year-old Dhurgham As-Samarra’i waits at the mosque where his family was supposed to meet if separated during their attempt to flee Baghdad, he realizes that no one else is coming to meet him. Following Dhurgham, as he builds a new life for himself with no homeland, family, or hope for the future, this searing and honest novel about separation, journey, and justice probes, questions, illuminates, and humanizes important moral and social issues.

Genres: Fiction, War, Book Club, Australia, Middle East

252 pages, Paperback

First published October 28, 2006

About the author

Also known as Eva Hornung: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

Reviews

[Marion Aranjo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful. Author did an amazing job.

[Leah · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was not a super memorable book. I read it two books ago, ones that I really liked and now I am not sure what it was about without reading the back. I remember it being a little depressing and sad. But I don't think it was total waste. The story was good, although sad, it was also dynamic and interesting, but not my favorite.

[Sharon Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Marsh Birds took me a while to get into although to be honest I'm not sure why as it was very well written, and a subject to which I have great sympathy. Maybe because I dreaded what was coming? I agree with my friend Maree, who thinks it should be read in every High School - I think it should also be read by a lot of politicians!

[Mary · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book called attention to the reality of immigration crises in other countries (Australia and New Zealand, in this case), but it was a little heavy-hitting--my husband would call it an "emotional bear trap."

[Maree Larkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book and think it should be included in High School English studies, I had no idea how much these people suffer at our hands. The book is compassionate and exposes the Australian immigration polices and there people. I think its a must read for us all in Australia.

[Virginia · Rating 5 out of 5]

story of Iraqi boy separated from family as fleeing. Through 8 years and 4 countries only finally to dissolve