Words are difficult to express the beauty of this incredible book which deals with a little girl's perspective being a refugee moving with her family to another country. Fleeing Vietnam in a boat that doesn't appear large enough, with a sky that is dark, and a long, scary journey of the unknown ahead.

As the girl, her mother and baby brother board the crowded boat, there are many wishes, including those the little girl imagines the objects might also have.

Perhaps the sun wishes it wasn't as hot, the journey wishes it wasn't so long, the girls heart wishes it was stronger, perhaps the path wishes it was shorter, and in the end when they arrive, she doesn't need to wish anymore.

This book brought tears. I couldn't help but wish that those who do not want to accept refugees might find a different perspective and open their hearts, putting themselves in the place of those in the boat.

The illustrations are incredible! The text is heart felt, and the wishes for a safe journey and a safe life are expressed sparsely with a lot of depth of feeling.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! ( )

Beautiful and affecting book. Shows the hardships that could lead a family to become refugees / illegal immigrants. May be disturbing to very young readers. Parents/readers should be prepared for questions about food scarcity, poverty, and danger. ( )

A beautiful and emotional tale of refugees fleeing Vietnam. A spare but evocative script works with the pictures to tell a story so much bigger and deeper than you'd think 75 words could manage.

(Another project! I'm reading all the picture books and graphic novels from NPR's Books We Love 2021: Kids’ Books list.) ( )

A refugee story that is both specific and universal: a young girl and part of her family leave home and make a dangerous journey. Things and places along the way are anthropomorphized in the text ("The boat wished it was bigger. The sea wished it was calmer"), taking a unique perspective; at the end, as the refugees are rescued from their small boat by the coast guard and look upon the skyline of Hong Kong, it shifts to first person ("And I wished I didn't have to wish anymore"). Author's note, artist's note.

See also: A Different Pond ( )

75 words have never meant so much as they do in this immigration story. The Caldacot worthy illustrations are as much a part of the story as the heart wrenching words. This story is beautiful and heartbreaking, and very needed in libraries now. ( )