Muzoon: From Refugee to Leader

Gr 2-3–A glimpse into the life of a refugee turned leader. Muzoon Almellehan grew up in Syria, but her family was forced to leave when war broke out. They packed their things and traveled to Jordan, where they lived in a refugee camp. Education was very important to Almellehan and her family, but she noticed that many girls were not attending the refugee school. She tried to convince them to return to school and began working for UNICEF, which ran the school. With someone from ­UNICEF, Almellehan traveled around the refugee camp talking to others and telling them about the importance of education. Eventually, her family immigrated to England. Almellehan continued working for ­UNICEF, helping to improve life for refugees around the world. Illustrations help to paint the picture by giving glimpses into refugee life, adding context and imagery to the details in the text. The soft colors and touching pictures of family and friends keep readers engaged in the action. Almellehan’s story of her own experiences will educate and ignite a spark of passion in young readers. Written in shorter paragraphs, this is perfect for emerging chapter book readers: there is enough detail to understand all the nuances of the story without becoming overwhelmed or losing interest.