We welcomed a new member to the book club, giving us 10 people at the meeting and a lively and wide ranging discussion. Illegal immigration is usually portrayed in the news from the perspective of the countries these people are trying to reach with little thought given to why people feel forced to take these risks. This story is told from the perspective of the people risking their lives to hopefully find a better life, those falling prey to people smugglers and the dangers of overcrowded boats.
The main character of the book is Amir, a nine year old Syrian boy who, having already been moved to Egypt, follows his stepfather one night and finds himself on a smugglers’ boat by accident. The story jumps between what happens when the boat reaches a hopefully safer country and what happens on the boat during the journey. The callousness of the people smugglers is harrowing. The lies migrants are fed about the boat and journey, people who can’t afford to be on the deck being locked in the hold where they’re doomed to drown if the boat sinks, migrants forced to pay extra for life jackets that turn out to be anything but, the lack of shelter, food or water or a real crew. As the story unfolds we get to know the migrants as human beings, as people, we hear their stories and understand more about why they’re risking their lives and can empathise with them. There is a twist at the end that leaves you reeling and brings you back to reality.
Our discussion ranged beyond the book itself to the author and his experience as a journalist in countries like Afghanistan, the evils of people trafficking, Brexit and the potential impacts on immigration laws. The general feeling was that if more people read this book they would have a better view of the people who put themselves through the hell of being trafficked to gain a better life. We thought the book was thought provoking and hard hitting and we all gave it 9/10.