Who Would Like This Book:
Sea Prayer is a beautifully illustrated, poetic meditation on love, loss, and hope, inspired by the refugee crisis. What sets it apart is its combination of evocative watercolor art and sparse, powerful prose – more graphic poem than novel. It's brief but stirring, perfect for those who appreciate moving, visual storytelling with a humanitarian purpose. If you value impactful literature with a social cause (proceeds go to help refugees), or love lyrical, emotional reads, you'll find a lot to appreciate here.
Who May Not Like This Book:
If you're looking for a full-length novel like Hosseini's previous works, this may feel underwhelming - it's very short and reads more like a poem with art than a traditional book. Some readers expecting a complex narrative might be disappointed by its brevity and format. Additionally, though the artwork is beautiful, the story's intensity may feel a bit heavy or not age-appropriate for children, despite its picture-book appearance.
About:
Sea Prayer is a poignant and beautifully crafted short story in the form of a father's letter to his son, Marwan, as they prepare for a perilous journey across the sea. The book reflects on their life in Syria before the war, capturing the transformation of their home into a war zone. Written in letter form, the book skillfully weaves prose and illustrations to create a powerful and emotional literary experience, offering a glimpse into the father's memories of Homs and the events leading to their departure.
The text, resembling a graphic poem, portrays the loss of home and way of life for the father and son from Syria. Sea Prayer beautifully juxtaposes the good times before the war with the destruction during, hinting at the hope for survival and a new life in a new land. Through the father's reflections and descriptions, the book conveys a sense of resilience and the enduring bond between a parent and child amidst the turmoil of war and displacement.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings include themes related to war, loss, and emotional distress, which may be intense for young readers.
From The Publisher:
NEW YORK TIMES bestseller
An illustrated book on the refugee crisis that will break your heart in under 48 pages, from the #1 New York Times-bestselling author of The Kite Runner, A Thousand Splendid Suns, and And the Mountains Echoed. A meaningful read to gift this holiday season.
"Intensely moving. . .Powerfully evocative of the plight in which displaced populations find themselves."- Kirkus, STARRED Review
"Hosseini's story, aimed at readers of all ages, does not dwell on nightmarish fates; instead, its emotional power flows from the love of a father for his son."- Publishers Weekly, STARRED BOX Review
A short, powerful, illustrated book written by beloved novelist Khaled Hosseini in response to the current refugee crisis, Sea Prayer is composed in the form of a letter, from a father to his son, on the eve of their journey. Watching over his sleeping son, the father reflects on the dangerous sea-crossing that lies before them. It is also a vivid portrait of their life in Homs, Syria, before the war, and of that city's swift transformation from a home into a deadly war zone.
Impelled to write this story by the haunting image of young Alan Kurdi, the three-year-old Syrian boy whose body washed upon the beach in Turkey in September 2015, Hosseini hopes to pay tribute to the millions of families, like Kurdi's, who have been splintered and forced from home by war and persecution, and he will donate author proceeds from this book to the UNHCR (the UN Refugee Agency) and The Khaled Hosseini Foundation to help fund lifesaving relief efforts to help refugees around the globe.
Khaled Hosseini is one of the most widely read writers in the world, with more than fifty-five million copies of his novels sold worldwide in more than seventy countries. Hosseini is also a Goodwill Envoy to the UNHCR, and the founder of The Khaled Hosseini Foundation, a nonprofit that provides humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan.
Ratings (5)
Incredible (1) | |
Loved It (3) | |
It Was OK (1) |
Reader Stats (14):
Read It (5) | |
Want To Read (8) | |
Not Interested (1) |
3 comment(s)
Even though this is a very short book, it still strikes me to my heart. The art plus the words make it so impactful to the reader. RIP to Alan Kurdi, the 3 year old refugee.
A story told as a letter to a father to a son of life in Syria before and after the skies are gray with bombs and they are forced to flee. The book is short but the images are powerful.
****4.0****
A very sad book, the fact that this is inspired from the real situation in bombed Syria makes it more sad. A Father fleeing his country clutching his young son in a boat, recalls the glorious days to his son, so that his son at least will have a ray of hope to cling on to. But the fate had it otherwise and they both perish in the sea.
A true light on Pathetic situation instilled by wrong people. Though short this book will always remain in me.
Happy Reading!!!
What can you read after
Sea Prayer?
About the Author:
Khaled Hosseini was born in Kabul, Afghanistan, and moved to the United States in 1980. He is the author of the New York Times bestsellers The Kite Runner, A Thousand Splendid Suns, and And the Mountains Echoed. Hosseini is also a U.S. Goodwill Envoy to the…
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