When I read books like Welcome to Nowhere, part of me reads with a sinking heart for I realise that I don’t have the courage to tell stories like this. Yes, I do know that every story matters and each one has a role to play, but powerful books like this are in a class of their own.
Elizabeth Laird’s books are exceptional. Look at Oranges in No Man’s Land, set in Lebanon, or The Witching Hour, a wonderful work of historical fiction. Then there’s the wonderful YA book Red Sky in the Morning and the very different Paradise End.
Welcome to Nowhere is set in war-torn Syria and told from the point of view of twelve-year-old Omar, an enterprising youngster with dreams of becoming a big businessman. He’s smart, friendly and confident, so the stage is set for him to achieve his dreams.
Except that civil war breaks out. Omar has always been advised not to talk about politics, but it suddenly seems like there’s no choice. Worse, his brother Musa is a rebel, while his father is a loyal government official.
Omar’s life falls apart as they flee Bosra and seek refuge with his aunt Fawzia. That is not the end of their journey either and Omar is struck by how his identity seems to change entirely. Soon, he becomes part of that nameless, shifting mass of people with no identity except that label – ‘refugee’.
Telling untold stories is crucial. Welcome to Nowhere reminded me of books like The Bone Sparrow and Boy 87 in so many ways. Yet, it is different, for Omar’s brother Musa is driven by the desire to rebel against a cruel government. War and oppression aren’t just driven by circumstances beyond their control; Musa is an individual, determined to act. One by one, all the characters in the book seem to be tested, and all of them find courage in their own ways.
| Title | Welcome to Nowhere |
| Author | Elizabeth Laird |
| Tags | YA, war, Syria |
| Rating (out of 5) | 4.5 |
| Ag-group | 12+ |
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