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The Crossing
The trailblazing new novel from the Carnegie Medal shortlisted author of Run, Rebel.
Praise for Run, Rebel - a Guardian best book of 2020: A tightly crafted series of punchy, often heartbreaking narrative poems . . . Mann's brilliant, coruscating verse novel lays out the anatomy of Amber's revolution, and the tentative first flowerings of hope and change. Guardian
A trailblazing new novel about two teenagers from opposite worlds; The Crossing is a profound story of hope, grief, and the very real tragedies of the refugee crisis.
Natalie's world is falling apart. She's just lost her mum and her brother marches the streets of Dover full of hate and anger. Swimming is her only refuge.
Sammy has fled his home and family in Eritrea for the chance of a new life in Europe. Every step he takes on his journey is a step into an unknown and unwelcoming future.
A twist of fate brings them together and gives them both hope. But is hope enough to mend a broken world?
Praise for Run, Rebel - a Guardian best book of 2020: A tightly crafted series of punchy, often heartbreaking narrative poems . . . Mann's brilliant, coruscating verse novel lays out the anatomy of Amber's revolution, and the tentative first flowerings of hope and change. Guardian
A trailblazing new novel about two teenagers from opposite worlds; The Crossing is a profound story of hope, grief, and the very real tragedies of the refugee crisis.
Natalie's world is falling apart. She's just lost her mum and her brother marches the streets of Dover full of hate and anger. Swimming is her only refuge.
Sammy has fled his home and family in Eritrea for the chance of a new life in Europe. Every step he takes on his journey is a step into an unknown and unwelcoming future.
A twist of fate brings them together and gives them both hope. But is hope enough to mend a broken world?
320 pages, Paperback
First published June 3, 2021
50 people are currently reading
1548 people want to read
About the author
Manjeet Mann
15 books90 followersManjeet is an actress, playwright, screenwriter and director. She is the founder of Run The World - an organization that works with women and girls from marginalized backgrounds and helps to empower them through sport and storytelling. She lives in Kent.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 312 reviews
January 11, 2022
Heart wrenching and moving, this is a book that lingers with you long after you finish the final page.
This was by no means an easy read, in fact, it was rather emotionally draining at times but I commend Manjeet Mann from not shying away from the very real and tragic realities far too many refugees face. This was emotional, powerful, heavy and painful read, all of which was highlighted all the more by being written in verse. This book won't be leaving my thoughts for a while to come.
TW: abuse, torture, suicide, mention of self harm, racism, racist attacks/hate crimes.
This was by no means an easy read, in fact, it was rather emotionally draining at times but I commend Manjeet Mann from not shying away from the very real and tragic realities far too many refugees face. This was emotional, powerful, heavy and painful read, all of which was highlighted all the more by being written in verse. This book won't be leaving my thoughts for a while to come.
TW: abuse, torture, suicide, mention of self harm, racism, racist attacks/hate crimes.
April 11, 2022
3.5 stars
The Crossing deserves all the stars on themes but something about it didn't work for me in terms of how the story rolled out.
Things I liked:
The themes
The verse and prose
How the alternate narratives interwove
Sammy
How grief was written
Things I liked less:
Coincidences that felt unrealistic
The culmination
Natalie as a character
Difficulty getting going with the format
That I should have felt it more
I do still recommend this read, I've seen a few friends really say it hit the feels. I may be anomaly but I wanted it to hit my heart like the themes should have done.
The Crossing deserves all the stars on themes but something about it didn't work for me in terms of how the story rolled out.
Things I liked:
The themes
The verse and prose
How the alternate narratives interwove
Sammy
How grief was written
Things I liked less:
Coincidences that felt unrealistic
The culmination
Natalie as a character
Difficulty getting going with the format
That I should have felt it more
I do still recommend this read, I've seen a few friends really say it hit the feels. I may be anomaly but I wanted it to hit my heart like the themes should have done.
October 31, 2022
This is one of the most profound and touching books I’ve read in a while. I actually had to stop reading it for a few days because emotionally it just exhausted me, I was crying every couple of pages and sobbing by the halfway point. It was beautiful, harrowing, and such an eye-opener.
While the refugee crisis is something we hear about it often, the details and difficulties are often sugar-coated or skipped altogether to make stories more palatable to the listener but this book really didn't hold back and did the issue justice. It is hard to push through and carry on with, but stories like this are so important and we can't just pick and choose which bits to listen to make ourselves comfortable. The discomfort of reading about these events will never even scratch the surface of having to experience them.
The writing style employed here also made it all the more powerful. We have these two kids who couldn’t be from more different walks of life, connected in ways you probably couldn't imagine. I loved the creativity of it being written in verse, it was so beautiful to see the similarities and differences in their journeys and how connected they were despite the distance. This is something I think everybody should read at least once, there’s so much to learn and a myriad of beautiful, strong messages and imagery.
I will be recommending this for a long time coming, it will stick with me for a while. So brilliant and underrated.
While the refugee crisis is something we hear about it often, the details and difficulties are often sugar-coated or skipped altogether to make stories more palatable to the listener but this book really didn't hold back and did the issue justice. It is hard to push through and carry on with, but stories like this are so important and we can't just pick and choose which bits to listen to make ourselves comfortable. The discomfort of reading about these events will never even scratch the surface of having to experience them.
The writing style employed here also made it all the more powerful. We have these two kids who couldn’t be from more different walks of life, connected in ways you probably couldn't imagine. I loved the creativity of it being written in verse, it was so beautiful to see the similarities and differences in their journeys and how connected they were despite the distance. This is something I think everybody should read at least once, there’s so much to learn and a myriad of beautiful, strong messages and imagery.
I will be recommending this for a long time coming, it will stick with me for a while. So brilliant and underrated.
March 20, 2024
“I guess immigration is only
a human right
if you’re the
right type of human”
Natalie just lost her mother to cancer, is feeling more disconnected from her family than ever, and to make matters worse: they’re being kicked out of their home.
Sammy is fleeing from Eritrea. His father has been murdered for speaking the truth. At the age of 18, sometimes even younger, people get rounded up to work for the military indefinitely. It’s slavery. He risks his life for a chance of a new future.
I was already crying by page 4 and I don’t think I ever stopped. I had to put the book down several times because the crying was giving me a headache. This is such a heartbreaking but beautiful story. I wish I could make everyone read this.
a human right
if you’re the
right type of human”
Natalie just lost her mother to cancer, is feeling more disconnected from her family than ever, and to make matters worse: they’re being kicked out of their home.
Sammy is fleeing from Eritrea. His father has been murdered for speaking the truth. At the age of 18, sometimes even younger, people get rounded up to work for the military indefinitely. It’s slavery. He risks his life for a chance of a new future.
I was already crying by page 4 and I don’t think I ever stopped. I had to put the book down several times because the crying was giving me a headache. This is such a heartbreaking but beautiful story. I wish I could make everyone read this.
July 20, 2021
One of the more powerful books that I've read so far this year. Beautiful novel in verse about a promising young swimmer falling into hard times and a young boy fleeing towards the UK escaping from military situations in his home country Eritrea. Natalie and Sammy's connections throughout alternating chapters really highlighted their feelings of both frustration and hope. T/W for violence, death, and grief.
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My Wishlist-https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/...
Twitter- www.Twitter.com/AllyBookKnot
Ko-Fi-https://ko-fi.com/alicemtb44
Affiliate Link for Waterstones-http://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmi...
Affiliate Link for Book Depository-https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinm...
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October 3, 2022
I think my MA program is trying to kill me - it's the first book I needed to read and I sobbed from the very first page to the very last.
June 3, 2021
The Crossing is a trailblazing new novel written in the form of a poem about two teenagers from opposite worlds and is a heartbreaking and life-affirming story of hope, grief and the very real tragedies of the refugee crisis. Natalie's world has turned upside down and she's struggling to cope. She's just lost her mum to an aggressive cancer, and her brother is descending further and further into anger and violence with a far-right, anti-refugee gang who march the streets of Dover; it seems this is an outlet for his seething anger and an adverse reaction to his mum’s passing. Meanwhile, Sammy has fled his home and family in the East African country of Eritrea for the chance of a new life in Europe. The primary reason for emigrating is that he is of an age where there is compulsory conscription into the army which is essentially like a death sentence in his country. Every step he takes is a step into the unknown - into a strange country and a hidden future.
A twist of fate brings these two teens from opposite sides of the channel together, but will their journey end in hope or despair? This is a heartbreaking, poignant and beautifully written prose poem with a subtle power to it. Both characters are suffering through adversity and tough times and you feel empathy for both of them in different ways. As soon as you realise that Sammy and Natalie could meet you simply cannot put it down are compelled to read on right until the end. The connection would be in strange circumstances but what has you glued to the pages is the hope they could perhaps bring to each other as they both feel so desperately alone. It's a profound story of grief, hope, displacement, loss and finding the strength to carry on fighting another day. The exploration of the plight of refugees was deftly and sensitively handled, and I thoroughly enjoy reading this captivating and original novel. Highly recommended.
A twist of fate brings these two teens from opposite sides of the channel together, but will their journey end in hope or despair? This is a heartbreaking, poignant and beautifully written prose poem with a subtle power to it. Both characters are suffering through adversity and tough times and you feel empathy for both of them in different ways. As soon as you realise that Sammy and Natalie could meet you simply cannot put it down are compelled to read on right until the end. The connection would be in strange circumstances but what has you glued to the pages is the hope they could perhaps bring to each other as they both feel so desperately alone. It's a profound story of grief, hope, displacement, loss and finding the strength to carry on fighting another day. The exploration of the plight of refugees was deftly and sensitively handled, and I thoroughly enjoy reading this captivating and original novel. Highly recommended.
April 18, 2022
I am part of a shadowing group for the Carnegie and Greenaway Medal with my daughter and a great bunch of bookish enthusiasts. It is a privilege to chat bookish thoughts with a great group of young people. Out of the 8 shortlisted books for the Carnegie Medal, my daughter and I decided to make, 'The Crossing,' our first read. The cover, the blurb, and the style of narrative caught our attention, and it did not disappoint!
Written in verse and from a dual perspective, the lives of Sammy and Nat seamlessly intertwine. The author cleverly toggles the points of view between the two characters within each chapter by using the same words at the end and the start of their perspectives. My daughter and I loved the use of this writing technique.
The telling is one of hope and courage, and shines a poignant and profound light on the refugee crisis. "Everyone comes from the same stardust," are words that have really stuck in my head.
There are incredible coincidences within the story but I think that is the point, we are all connected through our humanity; we are all looking at the same stars in the sky.
Written in verse and from a dual perspective, the lives of Sammy and Nat seamlessly intertwine. The author cleverly toggles the points of view between the two characters within each chapter by using the same words at the end and the start of their perspectives. My daughter and I loved the use of this writing technique.
The telling is one of hope and courage, and shines a poignant and profound light on the refugee crisis. "Everyone comes from the same stardust," are words that have really stuck in my head.
There are incredible coincidences within the story but I think that is the point, we are all connected through our humanity; we are all looking at the same stars in the sky.
May 29, 2022
A heartbreaking read from two perspectives who have both faced unimaginable loss in their lives and continue to face it on a daily basis. The connection you can feel between the two in between the pages is magical - beautifully written.
June 10, 2021
This was EASILY a 5 star.
Its not an easy read, but its written so beautifully I could see it all.
Full review will be on my YouTube channel (books and bargains) as part of my June wrap up
Its not an easy read, but its written so beautifully I could see it all.
Full review will be on my YouTube channel (books and bargains) as part of my June wrap up
June 7, 2021
The Crossing is a novel written in verse following Natalie and Sammy. Natalie has just lost her mother, who died of cancer. Her mother worked in refugee relief and always encouraged Natalie to be compassionate. Since her mother's death her family is falling apart, her brother is getting involved with anti-refugee people. Sammy is a boy from Eritrea, wanting to flee due to the forced conscription into the army where they abuse the soldiers. He wants to flee to the UK.
This novel is a fast read due to it being told in verse, so I always fear that I will not become attached to the characters due to this, even though I enjoy reading novels in verse. But I really became attached and invested in these characters, especially Sammy. This novel is so moving and gripping, with everything handled with care. How the characters are linked together and how this is written is really invented and beautiful.
I am always wanting to read more diversely and more about the refugee crisis; this was a great compassionate read. I enjoyed this more than Mann's previous novel, so am looking forward to what she writes next.
Thank you to Penguin Random House Children and Netgalley for allowing me to read this to review.
This novel is a fast read due to it being told in verse, so I always fear that I will not become attached to the characters due to this, even though I enjoy reading novels in verse. But I really became attached and invested in these characters, especially Sammy. This novel is so moving and gripping, with everything handled with care. How the characters are linked together and how this is written is really invented and beautiful.
I am always wanting to read more diversely and more about the refugee crisis; this was a great compassionate read. I enjoyed this more than Mann's previous novel, so am looking forward to what she writes next.
Thank you to Penguin Random House Children and Netgalley for allowing me to read this to review.
December 31, 2021
4 stars
Wow. All I can say was this was amazing. The plot was super engaging and the issues it dealt with were dealt with really maturely and were all so important. The characters were all well developed, which is especially notable as this was a novel in verse. The reason for the slightly lower rating is that I didn't find the poetry/verse itself that well-written, but it didn't impact my overall enjoyment and I would still definitely recommend and would love to read the author's other work.
Wow. All I can say was this was amazing. The plot was super engaging and the issues it dealt with were dealt with really maturely and were all so important. The characters were all well developed, which is especially notable as this was a novel in verse. The reason for the slightly lower rating is that I didn't find the poetry/verse itself that well-written, but it didn't impact my overall enjoyment and I would still definitely recommend and would love to read the author's other work.
November 9, 2021
Run, Rebel was amazing - what a hard act to follow! But The Crossing is every bit as good. There were some pages where I just had to put the book down to recover - page 180 was one - but in fact all the pages were pure magic. Can't recommend this book highly enough.
May 27, 2022
The only reason I am giving this book 3 stars is because of how slow it was at the beginning. It took me some time to get into the book, but by the end I was gripped by the story of Sammy and the sadness of Nat. A beautiful book that everyone should read.
May 12, 2025
The UK received 48, 540 applications for asylum in 2021. Of that, they issued 10, 492 positive decisions.
In the same year, Germany issued 59,850 positive decisions; France 33, 975, Italy 21,805, Spain 20, 405, Greece 16,575, Austria 12, 105, the Netherlands 12, 065*.
It is such a minuscule, tiny number. Like Sammy, they have to go through the absolute worst of the worst before they have any hope of safety - which even then is not guaranteed (modern slavery, racial attacks, etc.).
I just hope people really consider what the cause of their socioeconomic problems are, because it certainly isn’t the result of 10,000 people trying to start new lives for themselves.
The book itself was interestingly stylistic, though I did get into it quite quickly. Some parts of it could have been more fleshed out (skipping over 60 days, Ryan’s character arc, the end). It was sensitive and emotional and handled the topic with care I think!!
*source: House of Commons Library, iNews.
In the same year, Germany issued 59,850 positive decisions; France 33, 975, Italy 21,805, Spain 20, 405, Greece 16,575, Austria 12, 105, the Netherlands 12, 065*.
It is such a minuscule, tiny number. Like Sammy, they have to go through the absolute worst of the worst before they have any hope of safety - which even then is not guaranteed (modern slavery, racial attacks, etc.).
I just hope people really consider what the cause of their socioeconomic problems are, because it certainly isn’t the result of 10,000 people trying to start new lives for themselves.
The book itself was interestingly stylistic, though I did get into it quite quickly. Some parts of it could have been more fleshed out (skipping over 60 days, Ryan’s character arc, the end). It was sensitive and emotional and handled the topic with care I think!!
*source: House of Commons Library, iNews.
June 4, 2024
4 stars - beautifully written, heart wrenching, raw and real.
May 30, 2024
Oh my lord.
June 2, 2024
This book was utterly superb. Easy 5 stars.
The verse novel design is so clever, tailing one voice off and blending/connecting to the next.
I have no other words - I’m a wee bit broken.
CW: suicide, torture, abuse, racism
Y10 Y11
The verse novel design is so clever, tailing one voice off and blending/connecting to the next.
I have no other words - I’m a wee bit broken.
CW: suicide, torture, abuse, racism
Y10 Y11
August 14, 2022
4/5⭐
an engaging and fast read book due to it being written in verse, with unbelievably deep and moving characters. it is written in verse, which i'm not used to, but it was a mesmerising style. the story this book follows is miserably sad but true, giving light to refugee situations' awareness, but doing a great job in treating these human being as... well, humans, and not as simple numbers.
it was a very emotionally draining read but i think everybody should read this book, to experience the grief and the overall emotions of this heartbreaking story, and hopefully change or upgrade their views on the topic.
an engaging and fast read book due to it being written in verse, with unbelievably deep and moving characters. it is written in verse, which i'm not used to, but it was a mesmerising style. the story this book follows is miserably sad but true, giving light to refugee situations' awareness, but doing a great job in treating these human being as... well, humans, and not as simple numbers.
it was a very emotionally draining read but i think everybody should read this book, to experience the grief and the overall emotions of this heartbreaking story, and hopefully change or upgrade their views on the topic.
September 21, 2025
I changed my review from 4 to 5 as this book haunts me. I found it heart wrenching but should be widely read especially in view of today’s political slogans and narrative
December 9, 2022
TW!!!!!
The first third or more of the book was written not very well, and I could tell why there aren't very good reviews. I was intent on giving it 2 stars. It's always an awesome delight to read a verse novel, but I was still thinking rather it was worth my time.
Which was sad because I really wanted to read it for the incredible topical value is has on racism and, less broadly, refugee status and journey. However it just wasn't very well actually written, in my opinion, but that's okay.
However that ending.... That ending absolutely broke me. There were several times throughout the book where I had to pull away and cry for a few seconds, think for a few minutes, however that ending was an absolute 4 star ending. I wasn't expecting it, and because there were annoying cliches and predictable events in this book - "striking eyes" drawing attention to each other, "we all look at the same stars in darkness in the sky" kind of thing - I wasn't expecting that.
The ending is so metaphorical and spiritual that I was strangely really moved. It wasn't literal, but it also was to a point, which made in an absolute axis that had so much horsepower as it spun.
When I was reading the acknowledgements, I finally clocked how the title is The Crossing and how that ties with the ending ... Oh hell, oh HOLY shit.
Quotes I liked:
"We're so connected, it's crazy.
My baba would say, if people just realised that,
the world would be a better place.
- That's for sure."
"Were told we're
illegal immigrants.
Baba used to say,
*Everyone is on the move,
always has been,
always will.*
What makes it ok?
The colour of your skin?
There are British
who live in Europe.
They are called expats,
not immigrants."
"Self-harm
hunger strikes
suicide
overcrowding
slowly losing our minds in
nightmares and panic attacks."
The first third or more of the book was written not very well, and I could tell why there aren't very good reviews. I was intent on giving it 2 stars. It's always an awesome delight to read a verse novel, but I was still thinking rather it was worth my time.
Which was sad because I really wanted to read it for the incredible topical value is has on racism and, less broadly, refugee status and journey. However it just wasn't very well actually written, in my opinion, but that's okay.
However that ending.... That ending absolutely broke me. There were several times throughout the book where I had to pull away and cry for a few seconds, think for a few minutes, however that ending was an absolute 4 star ending. I wasn't expecting it, and because there were annoying cliches and predictable events in this book - "striking eyes" drawing attention to each other, "we all look at the same stars in darkness in the sky" kind of thing - I wasn't expecting that.
The ending is so metaphorical and spiritual that I was strangely really moved. It wasn't literal, but it also was to a point, which made in an absolute axis that had so much horsepower as it spun.
When I was reading the acknowledgements, I finally clocked how the title is The Crossing and how that ties with the ending ... Oh hell, oh HOLY shit.
Quotes I liked:
"We're so connected, it's crazy.
My baba would say, if people just realised that,
the world would be a better place.
- That's for sure."
"Were told we're
illegal immigrants.
Baba used to say,
*Everyone is on the move,
always has been,
always will.*
What makes it ok?
The colour of your skin?
There are British
who live in Europe.
They are called expats,
not immigrants."
"Self-harm
hunger strikes
suicide
overcrowding
slowly losing our minds in
nightmares and panic attacks."
August 5, 2025
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 15, 2022
This story is an absolute page turner.
Once I had worked out how the story worked I was enraptured. I adore stories told in poetic prose and I also love stories told from more than one point of view... and this is both.
You have to have your wits about you initially to work out that the two points of view meld seamlessly with each other. Instead of starting a new point of view on a new page, the author ends one viewpoint with a word or phrase... and then starts the next viewpoint with the same word of phrase. It is very, very clever.
Natalie's world is in tatters after the death of her mother. Her father can't afford to keep up with rent on the flat and her brother seems to be being lured by a far right, anti-immigration group in their home town of Dover (a town on the south coast of England and right on the front line for incoming refugees.) He only way of managing her stress is swimming - something she and her mother shared a love of.
Sammy has fled his homeland of Eritrea with his best friend, looking for a chance of a new and better life in England. They reason that it is their only option as Eritrea becomes less and less free. The two boys travel across Africa, in appalling conditions, seeing awful things in an attempt to make their way to the promised land of England.
A twist of fate brings them together and gives each of them a different kind of hope.
This story pulls no punches - there are traumatic scenes and powerful emotions to deal with. But it is fabulously told and will live with me for sometime.
Once I had worked out how the story worked I was enraptured. I adore stories told in poetic prose and I also love stories told from more than one point of view... and this is both.
You have to have your wits about you initially to work out that the two points of view meld seamlessly with each other. Instead of starting a new point of view on a new page, the author ends one viewpoint with a word or phrase... and then starts the next viewpoint with the same word of phrase. It is very, very clever.
Natalie's world is in tatters after the death of her mother. Her father can't afford to keep up with rent on the flat and her brother seems to be being lured by a far right, anti-immigration group in their home town of Dover (a town on the south coast of England and right on the front line for incoming refugees.) He only way of managing her stress is swimming - something she and her mother shared a love of.
Sammy has fled his homeland of Eritrea with his best friend, looking for a chance of a new and better life in England. They reason that it is their only option as Eritrea becomes less and less free. The two boys travel across Africa, in appalling conditions, seeing awful things in an attempt to make their way to the promised land of England.
A twist of fate brings them together and gives each of them a different kind of hope.
This story pulls no punches - there are traumatic scenes and powerful emotions to deal with. But it is fabulously told and will live with me for sometime.
July 4, 2021
This book is beautifully written, almost poetic.
It is the story of two young teenagers. One in Dover UK and one a young boy escaping from Eritrea hoping for a better life in England.
The book tells both stories simultaneously and jumps from one to the other with a linking sentence. It sounds like it would be hard to follow but once you get into the book it really works well.
The text is set out a bit like a poem too with short 'verses' but it is not a rhyming poem so it reads like straight text.
It is a very emotional book and really tugs at the heartstrings.
What is so sad is that although this is a work of fiction young Sammy's story is one that is something that is happening hundreds of times a week to young people trying to escape from awful lives to somewhere better.
This is a book that should be read by all youngsters to really get an idea of what some of the immigrants are suffering.
It is the story of two young teenagers. One in Dover UK and one a young boy escaping from Eritrea hoping for a better life in England.
The book tells both stories simultaneously and jumps from one to the other with a linking sentence. It sounds like it would be hard to follow but once you get into the book it really works well.
The text is set out a bit like a poem too with short 'verses' but it is not a rhyming poem so it reads like straight text.
It is a very emotional book and really tugs at the heartstrings.
What is so sad is that although this is a work of fiction young Sammy's story is one that is something that is happening hundreds of times a week to young people trying to escape from awful lives to somewhere better.
This is a book that should be read by all youngsters to really get an idea of what some of the immigrants are suffering.
April 2, 2022
4.5⭐
This book broke my heart. It's one of the best novels-in-verse I've ever read. I wasn't expecting it to be quite so heavy, but at the same time it's such an important read that highlights the refugee crisis and what people are going through in reality.
I guess migration is only
a human right
if you're the
right type of human
This book broke my heart. It's one of the best novels-in-verse I've ever read. I wasn't expecting it to be quite so heavy, but at the same time it's such an important read that highlights the refugee crisis and what people are going through in reality.
I'm scared to leave,
but I'm also scared to stay
Choiceless
voiceless
hopeless
helpless
June 6, 2021
Thank you Netgalley UK and Penguin Random House Children’s UK for sending me an advance reader copy in exchange of an honest review.
4.5, rounding up to 5 stars. (If there was a genre for "important books", this book would feature on that list)
"It must be here between the lines, the space between (his) words."
For me, this quote sums the beauty of The Crossing, the incredible novel in verse by Manjeet Mann.
Natalie Lennon, a talented 16 year old swimmer from Dover find herself facing homelessness when her family begins to unravels after her mother passes away with cancer. Her father, who is struggling with grief, can't keep them afloat and her newly adult brother Ryan is being seduced far right groups.
Samuel Jabir, a 17 year boy Eritrean boy, looks to stars for hope after his father is killed for being a dissenter. As forced conscription, which already stole his sister Sophia and his high school crush Mariam, threaten to enslave him too, Sammy and his best friend Tesfay decide to make the perilous journey to UK to reunite with a cousin. The boys know they are "walking into death" but "the chance to love is worth dying for".
Nat and Sammy complete each other's stories, the words and phrases repeating as move from one POV to the other. Mann's poetic language use, which we first became familiar with in her debut Run, Rebel, continued to create a haunting, portrait of the reality. My heart ached as I was immersed in both young protagonists' struggle for survival in a world where their humanity is being questioned.
Grief at the loss of a parent, bravery in a harsh world, and ultimately being forced to grow up too early are all expressed with heart and vivid clarity, connecting the teenagers who share common human experiences despite their wildly different circumstances. And in this, despite not saying it out loud, Mann, reminds us that "We're all built from the same dust".
The dust in question is Stardust. Stars are one of the few connections between Nat and Sammy - they both look up to the star-filled sky for inspiration and hope. The other more earthly connection is formed when they see each other on the news (Nat, who sees stories of refugees on the TV and Sammy sees an newspaper article about Nat's charity swim for Care4Calais in memory of her mother who was a refugee support worker). This connection, although more tangible, felt far more tenous for me. I would have preferred the two stories to stories to only ever intersect in anonymity, but that is just me.
Instead, I would have preferred to see and hear more from Fazel, "the boy who came to (our) school last year. The boy who came on a boat." Although he plays a pivotal role in Nat's story, I wish we saw and heard more from him. Nat's other classmates: Kevin, who bullies and attacks Fazel constantly, and Mel, Nat's rich girlfriend, both are fleshed out but their arcs don't quite end.
Mel in particular, is another example of Mann's clever writing. While Ryan rages about a presumably non-white family moving into a house in the estate (he mentions "people born in this country should take priority" and gets chastised by his sister) he doesn't bat an eyelid at "Mel's sea-view mansion". Even Nat's father is happy to work "renovating a mansion in the middle of Kent", while losing their community and home to the new, ironically named "Prospect Homes", a wealthy housing development.
While Mel using her wealth to support Nat softens the blow, I wish we saw Nat question Mel's privilege more, or even ask what makes Mel's family different from hers. There is a superb scenes early in the book where Nat and Mel eat sandwiches at school: Nat has corned beef, while Mel tucks in "some gourmet-supermarket-finest creation with houmous and roasted peppers." Or
walk down the high street. Nat is window-shopping while thinking about the homeless woman in a shop doorway and how close she is to this fate, while Mel is weighed down with bags full of the latest gear.
For such a poignant story, I wish Ryan's arc was better explored. We see Ryan through Nat's eyes and given that she has a stronger, more compassionate voice, we don't get to sympathise with his plight as much. There was plenty of opportunity to dig deeper into his descent to the far-right violence but with Nat's sermonising voice, these experiences get lost. While I love slick, Hollywood-style cross-cutting of Sammy and Tesfay on the boat and Nat and crew at the protests against the far-right marches, equating Tesfay to Ryan felt cheap and almost disrespectful.
Tesfay, in his entire being, represents the hope that his name translates to, which Ryan's undoing cannot ever come close to. We are reminded that Ryan is not a bigot as he got his sister a rainbow cake to celebrate her coming out, but his actions really speak louder than words. Even in his redemption, Ryan is not given a voice, rather he speaks after being prompted by his father. If there was a sequel or a companion novel, I would want it to be from the perspectives of the 2 sibling: Ryan and his descent into fascism, and Sophia and her survival as a forcefully conscripted soldier.
I spoke little about Sammy, but that's because every word about him and his story broke my heart and inspired me in equal measures. It was his parts that I was most excited to read and I will forever be haunted by his words: "Language can so easily put you on top if you are lucky enough to be the ones giving out the labels. I guess migration is only a human right if you're the right type of human."
4.5, rounding up to 5 stars. (If there was a genre for "important books", this book would feature on that list)
"It must be here between the lines, the space between (his) words."
For me, this quote sums the beauty of The Crossing, the incredible novel in verse by Manjeet Mann.
Natalie Lennon, a talented 16 year old swimmer from Dover find herself facing homelessness when her family begins to unravels after her mother passes away with cancer. Her father, who is struggling with grief, can't keep them afloat and her newly adult brother Ryan is being seduced far right groups.
Samuel Jabir, a 17 year boy Eritrean boy, looks to stars for hope after his father is killed for being a dissenter. As forced conscription, which already stole his sister Sophia and his high school crush Mariam, threaten to enslave him too, Sammy and his best friend Tesfay decide to make the perilous journey to UK to reunite with a cousin. The boys know they are "walking into death" but "the chance to love is worth dying for".
Nat and Sammy complete each other's stories, the words and phrases repeating as move from one POV to the other. Mann's poetic language use, which we first became familiar with in her debut Run, Rebel, continued to create a haunting, portrait of the reality. My heart ached as I was immersed in both young protagonists' struggle for survival in a world where their humanity is being questioned.
Grief at the loss of a parent, bravery in a harsh world, and ultimately being forced to grow up too early are all expressed with heart and vivid clarity, connecting the teenagers who share common human experiences despite their wildly different circumstances. And in this, despite not saying it out loud, Mann, reminds us that "We're all built from the same dust".
The dust in question is Stardust. Stars are one of the few connections between Nat and Sammy - they both look up to the star-filled sky for inspiration and hope. The other more earthly connection is formed when they see each other on the news (Nat, who sees stories of refugees on the TV and Sammy sees an newspaper article about Nat's charity swim for Care4Calais in memory of her mother who was a refugee support worker). This connection, although more tangible, felt far more tenous for me. I would have preferred the two stories to stories to only ever intersect in anonymity, but that is just me.
Instead, I would have preferred to see and hear more from Fazel, "the boy who came to (our) school last year. The boy who came on a boat." Although he plays a pivotal role in Nat's story, I wish we saw and heard more from him. Nat's other classmates: Kevin, who bullies and attacks Fazel constantly, and Mel, Nat's rich girlfriend, both are fleshed out but their arcs don't quite end.
Mel in particular, is another example of Mann's clever writing. While Ryan rages about a presumably non-white family moving into a house in the estate (he mentions "people born in this country should take priority" and gets chastised by his sister) he doesn't bat an eyelid at "Mel's sea-view mansion". Even Nat's father is happy to work "renovating a mansion in the middle of Kent", while losing their community and home to the new, ironically named "Prospect Homes", a wealthy housing development.
While Mel using her wealth to support Nat softens the blow, I wish we saw Nat question Mel's privilege more, or even ask what makes Mel's family different from hers. There is a superb scenes early in the book where Nat and Mel eat sandwiches at school: Nat has corned beef, while Mel tucks in "some gourmet-supermarket-finest creation with houmous and roasted peppers." Or
walk down the high street. Nat is window-shopping while thinking about the homeless woman in a shop doorway and how close she is to this fate, while Mel is weighed down with bags full of the latest gear.
For such a poignant story, I wish Ryan's arc was better explored. We see Ryan through Nat's eyes and given that she has a stronger, more compassionate voice, we don't get to sympathise with his plight as much. There was plenty of opportunity to dig deeper into his descent to the far-right violence but with Nat's sermonising voice, these experiences get lost. While I love slick, Hollywood-style cross-cutting of Sammy and Tesfay on the boat and Nat and crew at the protests against the far-right marches, equating Tesfay to Ryan felt cheap and almost disrespectful.
Tesfay, in his entire being, represents the hope that his name translates to, which Ryan's undoing cannot ever come close to. We are reminded that Ryan is not a bigot as he got his sister a rainbow cake to celebrate her coming out, but his actions really speak louder than words. Even in his redemption, Ryan is not given a voice, rather he speaks after being prompted by his father. If there was a sequel or a companion novel, I would want it to be from the perspectives of the 2 sibling: Ryan and his descent into fascism, and Sophia and her survival as a forcefully conscripted soldier.
I spoke little about Sammy, but that's because every word about him and his story broke my heart and inspired me in equal measures. It was his parts that I was most excited to read and I will forever be haunted by his words: "Language can so easily put you on top if you are lucky enough to be the ones giving out the labels. I guess migration is only a human right if you're the right type of human."
February 22, 2022
4.5 stars
This story is about two teenagers from opposite worlds.
There is Natalie, who lives in the UK and is part of a low-class family. She struggles with housing issues, the loss of her mother and the distance she begins to feel toward her brother, Ryan, who joins far-right marches and is full of hatred for immigrants. Natalie decides to raise money for refugees by swimming the English channel and this purpose gives her (and her dad who trains her) hope for the future.
There is also Sammy, who has fled from his home and family in Eritrea, where if he stayed he would be forced into military service for life. He embarks on an extremely difficult journey crossing countries, hoping to reach the UK where his uncle lives to start a new life.
At first, it took me a moment to adjust to these characters and work out their stories and voices. Words and phrases repeat as we move from one POV to the other. Once I got it, however, Sammy and Natalie's voices felt so vivid to me. This is my second book by Manjeet Mann and I just think she is a fantastic author. The way she uses verse cuts right to the emotional heart of her character's voices and pulls you into their experience.
The two interchanging points of view from Natalie and Sammy were masterfully woven throughout. It was interesting to read two completely different yet complementary perspectives. With Natalie's brother, the story even goes into how people sometimes end up in far-right hate groups, the case being that they are usually in low-economic situations themselves, feeling let down and unheard by their own governments. The message gets twisted so that they think refugees are the reason for this, though in reality people are risking their lives, putting themselves through extreme hardship and unthinkable horrors in order to find a better life for themselves and their family.
This was a difficult read, made more heart-wrenching by how Sammy's story is based on true narratives. The author explains in her author's notes that she interviewed refugees and heard their stories, weaving them throughout this novel.
Mann uses the idea of "Stardust" and stars to link Natalie and Sammy, showing how humans are connected and ultimately not so different. There was a mystical sort of connection between the two characters, which is the only place the book lost me. I would have preferred a more anonymous, realistic story between them. When they both dreamed of swimming with each other, for example, it seemed almost paranormal and it took me out of this narrative that is otherwise grounded in reality.
Overall, this book had a powerful message and my whole heart was immersed in this story. I know this book will stick with me forever.
This story is about two teenagers from opposite worlds.
There is Natalie, who lives in the UK and is part of a low-class family. She struggles with housing issues, the loss of her mother and the distance she begins to feel toward her brother, Ryan, who joins far-right marches and is full of hatred for immigrants. Natalie decides to raise money for refugees by swimming the English channel and this purpose gives her (and her dad who trains her) hope for the future.
There is also Sammy, who has fled from his home and family in Eritrea, where if he stayed he would be forced into military service for life. He embarks on an extremely difficult journey crossing countries, hoping to reach the UK where his uncle lives to start a new life.
At first, it took me a moment to adjust to these characters and work out their stories and voices. Words and phrases repeat as we move from one POV to the other. Once I got it, however, Sammy and Natalie's voices felt so vivid to me. This is my second book by Manjeet Mann and I just think she is a fantastic author. The way she uses verse cuts right to the emotional heart of her character's voices and pulls you into their experience.
The two interchanging points of view from Natalie and Sammy were masterfully woven throughout. It was interesting to read two completely different yet complementary perspectives. With Natalie's brother, the story even goes into how people sometimes end up in far-right hate groups, the case being that they are usually in low-economic situations themselves, feeling let down and unheard by their own governments. The message gets twisted so that they think refugees are the reason for this, though in reality people are risking their lives, putting themselves through extreme hardship and unthinkable horrors in order to find a better life for themselves and their family.
This was a difficult read, made more heart-wrenching by how Sammy's story is based on true narratives. The author explains in her author's notes that she interviewed refugees and heard their stories, weaving them throughout this novel.
Mann uses the idea of "Stardust" and stars to link Natalie and Sammy, showing how humans are connected and ultimately not so different. There was a mystical sort of connection between the two characters, which is the only place the book lost me. I would have preferred a more anonymous, realistic story between them. When they both dreamed of swimming with each other, for example, it seemed almost paranormal and it took me out of this narrative that is otherwise grounded in reality.
Overall, this book had a powerful message and my whole heart was immersed in this story. I know this book will stick with me forever.
July 6, 2021
The Crossing by Manjeet Mann 📚📖
I fell in love with Manjeet’s writing when I read her debut YA novel Run Rebel. Some authors and writing touch your heart, and I couldn’t wait to be transported into another world with her writing again.
Manjeet is an actress, playwright, screenwriter. She is also the founder of Run The World- an organisation that works with women and girls from marginalised backgrounds and helps to empower them through sport and storytelling……in short she is a phenomenal , inspiring woman.
The Crossing is where you meet Natalie and Sammy. Natalie has just lost her mother and her family are struggling financially her brother is apart of a far-right gang whilst hearing of the refugees desperation in the news. Her only escape is swimming. While Sammy was forced to to flee his home and family in Eritrea for the chance of a new life in Europe. Every step is into unknown and unwelcoming territory.
This book like Run Rebel is written in verse and I love how verse novels grab you with so few words but packs a punch. It’s so powerful. These two teenagers come with two different experiences of the refugee crisis. Both perspectives are heartbreaking, captivating and leave you thinking. Despite our divisions, we are all connected and deserve to live, love, thrive and grow into our future
Whilst this book is a work of fiction, unfortunately elements of Sammy’s journey is not. The Crossing is about loss, but also about hope, belonging, safety and acceptance. It’s safe to say I loved this book and @manjeet_k_mann words and stories continue to inspire, move and sweep into my heart.
I fell in love with Manjeet’s writing when I read her debut YA novel Run Rebel. Some authors and writing touch your heart, and I couldn’t wait to be transported into another world with her writing again.
Manjeet is an actress, playwright, screenwriter. She is also the founder of Run The World- an organisation that works with women and girls from marginalised backgrounds and helps to empower them through sport and storytelling……in short she is a phenomenal , inspiring woman.
The Crossing is where you meet Natalie and Sammy. Natalie has just lost her mother and her family are struggling financially her brother is apart of a far-right gang whilst hearing of the refugees desperation in the news. Her only escape is swimming. While Sammy was forced to to flee his home and family in Eritrea for the chance of a new life in Europe. Every step is into unknown and unwelcoming territory.
This book like Run Rebel is written in verse and I love how verse novels grab you with so few words but packs a punch. It’s so powerful. These two teenagers come with two different experiences of the refugee crisis. Both perspectives are heartbreaking, captivating and leave you thinking. Despite our divisions, we are all connected and deserve to live, love, thrive and grow into our future
Whilst this book is a work of fiction, unfortunately elements of Sammy’s journey is not. The Crossing is about loss, but also about hope, belonging, safety and acceptance. It’s safe to say I loved this book and @manjeet_k_mann words and stories continue to inspire, move and sweep into my heart.
April 4, 2022
A young man from Eritrea seeks asylum and makes a connection with a teenage girl from Dover. She, Nat, is grieving for her mother, and living with her Dad and older brother, close to poverty. Her brother, grief stricken and unable to get a job loses hope and gets involved with a far-right group. This has devastating consequences. Meanwhile, refugee Sammy and his friend endure a journey that is unimaginably bleak, and full of terror. I will say that the content made this a difficult read. Not for younger readers.
Brilliantly written in verse, it should make you cry, and be hard to forget.
Brilliantly written in verse, it should make you cry, and be hard to forget.
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