Teach-Primary-Issue-20.1

www.teachwire.net | 59 The artwork powerfully portrays the huge emotional toll the journey takes on the family, whilst highlighting their hope and determination to reach safety. Aggs’ illustrations add a further layer of nuance to the story and echo the fear and uncertainty faced by its protagonists. The graphic novel format allows the visual storytelling to make complex issues such as displacement, empathy and global conflicts understandable and engaging for readers. N o Refuge is the second graphic novel following siblings Hannah, Bea, and their little brother, Dom, who have been forced to flee their home during a civil war. They are desperately trying to reach their father, but the path through a now unfriendly land is fraught with danger. The story is told through the eyes of the children and, despite the bleak circumstances, has strong themes of kindness, solidarity and resilience, which will resonate with readers. The story lends itself beautifully to helping pupils develop empathy for and an understanding of refugees as people, not just news headlines. In a world where political tensions are rising and democracy seems increasingly insecure, it is ever more important that children are given opportunities to strengthen their skills of critical thinking and allowed to discuss complicated ideas in a safe and guided way. There are also rich opportunities to develop the key skills of inference, prediction, Explore the plight of refugees, and how our communities can support those fleeing difficult circumstances, with Patrice Aggs and Joe Brady’s stunning graphic novel BOOK TOP I C JO CUMMI NS Illustrations © Patrice Aggs T E ACH RE AD I NG & WR I T I NG Book topic UKS2 Published by DFB Phoenix, 2025 No Refuge