Avery, Tom Too much trouble (and sequel)
An adventure story about 2 boys who are refugees from an unnamed African country, surviving alone in London.
Bell, Julia Dirty work
Lured by the promise of money and a western European lifestyle, Oksana enters the UK illegally and end up working as a sex slave in London. For older readers.
Bennett, Sophia Threads (and sequels)
An entertaining read about the world of celebrities and fashion which also deals with the realities of life in a war zone and the plight of refugees
Boyce, Frank Cottrell The unforgotten coat
When she is in Year 6, two brothers from Mongolia unexpectedly join Julie’s school. She becomes their “Good Guide” until one day, just as suddenly as they arrived, they are gone, taken by the immigration service and deported
Cotterill, Jo Looking at the stars
There is civil war in Amina’s country. She is forced to flee to an overcrowded refugee camp where life is grim
Craigie, Emma What was never said
After experiencing the horrors of war-torn Somalia during early childhood, Zahra is now settled in England. Then when she is 15, a face from the past visits her family and unwanted memories resurface.
Cross, Gillian After tomorrow
A dystopia set in the near future. After the economy collapses, the UK falls into anarchy. Thousands of refugees make their way through the Channel Tunnel and France is overwhelmed.
De Prince, E ; De Prince, M Hope in a ballet shoe
This unlikely “story” is actually true. Born in war-torn Sierra Leone, Michaela ended up in an orphanage when she was four. Her future seemed hopeless. Then she was adopted and taken to America where her new parents fostered her love of dance. Today she is a professional ballet dancer.
Doherty, Belie Abela
Told alternately by the two main characters, this book looks at human trafficking and cross-cultural adoption. Abela is a nine year old Tanzanian orphan whose family have died from AIDS. Rosa is a 13 year old girl from Sheffield whose mother decides to adopt a child.
Dowswell, Paul Sektion 20
Historical novel which takes place in East Germany during the Cold War. Alex is under the constant surveillance of the
Stasi, the Secret Police. His life is becoming intolerable. Is the answer to escape to the west?
Garland, Sarah Azzi in between (graphic novel)
The moving story of a young girl from (probably) Syria whose family are forced to flee their country and find asylum in
(probably) Britain.
Geda, Fabio In the sea there are crocodiles
Enaiatollah Akbari is a 10 year old from Afghanistan. For five long years he travels all alone through several countries.
Finally he reaches Italy where he claims asylum.

Gleitzman, Morris Boy overboard and Girl underground
Morris Gleitzman’s books are always entertaining reads, but the subject matter is deadly serious. In the first of these books a family are forced to flee their Afghanistan and seek asylum in Australia. In the second, they are imprisoned in a detention centre.
Halahmy, Miriam Hidden
If you found an illegal immigrant, what would you do? This is the dilemma that Alix and Samir face when they rescue
Mohammed, an Iraqi, from drowning.
Hepburn, Sam If you were me
Aliya and her family are refugees who have recently arrived in London from Afghanistan. When her brother is accused of terrorism, she is sure he is innocent. But how can she prove it?
Ibbotson, Eva The secret countess
An historical romance. Anna was born into a wealthy family in St Petersburg. Then came the Russian Revolution and the family lose everything. They flee to England where Anna becomes a maid in order to survive.
Jansen, Hanna Over a thousand hills I walk with you
Most of the things that happen in this book are true. They happened to Jeanne, an 8 year old girl, who was the only member of her family to survive the Rwandan genocide in 1994 when a million people were killed in just 100 days.
Kerr, Judith When Hitler stole pink rabbit and Bombs on Aunt Dainty
The first book is a children’s classic about being a refugee. Anna’s family are political refugees fleeing from Nazi Germany.
In the sequel, which was previously called The other way round, Anna is now a teenager and her family are living in London during the blitz.
Laird, Elizabeth Kiss the dust
Tara is a Kurd, living in Iraq under Saddam Hussein. Her family are forced to flee first to a refugee camp in neighbouring
Iran, and then to London.
Morpurgo, Michael Shadow
Shadow is a sniffer dog who has been trained to alert soldiers to bombs in Afghanistan. When he is separated from his handlers, he becomes the constant companion of Aman, an Afghani boy who escapes to the UK where he is held in a detention centre.
Serraillier, Ian The Silver sword, The
A modern classic set during World War 2. Four siblings make a long and difficult journey from Poland to Switzerland as they search for their parents.
Swindells, Robert Ruby Tanya
A story told by 2 friends alternately. Asra’s family have fled to England to escape persecution. Ruby Tanya’s father supports the British National Party. After a teacher is killed in an explosion, tensions between the local people and the asylum seekers become unbearable
Williams, Michael Now is the time for running
When enemy soldiers ransack their Zimbabwean village, Deo and his brother embark on a long and dangerous journey across the border to South Africa in search of their father.
Zephaniah, Benjamin
Alem’s father is Ethiopian and his mother is Eritrean. The 2 countries are at war with one another and Alem is not safe in either. So his father takes him on a holiday to London and abandons him.
Refugee boy
Compiled by Susan Green, Camden