The Mediterranean

April 15, 2018
An art book by Bologna Ragazzi Award-winner Greder (The Island, 2008, etc.) about the European migrant crisis.Dark-toned, charcoal-dominant illustrations on wordless pages portray two men, one with a light complexion and the other one darker, eating fish. The white man sells the other rifles, which are delivered across the sea and carried by soldiers. A white man resembling the one who sold the weapons stands right behind the soldiers' commanders, suggesting that he's commanding too. Then there is war, death, and displacement. The people escaping war walk, then appear crammed on a truck. They talk to smugglers and get on a boat that founders, hopelessly overloaded. The last illustration, of the sinking boat, hearkens back to a man appearing at the beginning of the book, whose drowned body sinks to the bottom of the sea and is eaten by fish--the same fish served to the two men closing the arms deal. In an afterword, Italian journalist Alessandro Leogrande dubs the illustrator's narrative a human "food chain," questioning "the relationship between Europe and the dictatorships from which people are fleeing en masse" and connecting Europe's "inability to understand this modern-day exodus" to a "denial of the humanity of those who travel by sea" and the political reasons behind the journey.A chilling and thought-provoking book about human, political, and economic aspects of the refugee crisis in a medium that makes it accessible to a wide array of audiences. (Informational picture book. 8-adult)

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December 1, 2018

Gr 6 Up-Beginning with just one sentence, the remainder of this moving story about the plight of refugees is told through wordless full-page illustrations, followed by a thoughtful afterword that provides more context and encourages further reflection. With a muted palette of primarily gray and white, Greder uses charcoals to create fluid movements in the illustrations that help readers feel the tension. At first glance, the art appears more like rough sketches; but the longer each page is pored over, the more readers will notice the intricacies and expertise. Greder balances light and dark and uses different perspectives to create momentum in the journey. The story strikingly begins with a body sinking into the sea with fish. The fish are caught in a net, sold, and bought. This leads to the more sinister barter of guns, which are then used in the destruction of villages. Those who survive such violence must journey by foot, making their way to the sea and onto overcrowded boats. The final illustration is of a boat sinking, harkening back to the beginning of the book, showcasing how this heartless and vicious cycle repeats itself. VERDICT This accessible yet heartbreaking story deserves to be read and discussed by readers of many different ages.-Jenna Friebel, Oak Park Public Library, IL

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