April 1, 2017
K-Gr 3-An uplifting tale of love, compassion, and new beginnings. Written by two of the volunteers who reunited Kunkush the cat with his family, and with the full cooperation of the family, this account will pull at readers' heartstrings. During a summer night in 2015, not long after the death of her husband, Sura arranged for herself, her five children, and one hidden treasure to be smuggled out of Mosul, Iraq. This treasure was their beloved cat Kunkush, and Sura knew that they couldn't leave him behind-even if that meant keeping him hidden in a small carrier from three smugglers during car and bus rides and hours of hiking through mountains and forests. Unfortunately Kunkush's carrier broke, and after landing in Greece he escaped, devastating the family. Although it took four months, volunteers, the Internet, and a journey spanning thousands of miles, Kunkush and his family were eventually reunited. Cornelison superbly heightens the emotional impact of the story: weathered faces aboard the rubber boat, a doe-eyed Kunkush fending for himself. An author's note, a world map of Kunkush's journey, and photographs of Kunkush being reunited with his family are included. However, oddly, the family's last name is not mentioned, and the text is occasionally clunky. VERDICT A poignant title for large collections looking for refugee stories.-Joy Poynor, formerly at Rogers Public Library, AR
Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
July 1, 2017
This unusual, true refugee story--centering on Kunkush, a cat who becomes separated from his human family after they flee Mosul together--will be of particular interest to children. Smudgy art in vibrant, saturated colors emphasizes the tenderhearted rather than the terrifying elements of Kunkush's ordeal and the joy when he's finally reunited with the family in Norway. Notes, photos, and a map are appended.
(Copyright 2017 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)