The Mediterranean by Armin Greder
Allen and Unwin, 2018. ISBN 9781760630959
(Age: 12-18) Recommended. "After he had finished drowning, his body
sank slowly to the bottom, where the fish were waiting."
This is the opening and only sentence by the author, in the book.
Profoundly disturbing, the words lead immediately to the next page,
where a lifeless body sinks to the bottom of the Mediterranean Ocean
to be nibbled by the fish. The charcoal drawings begin the emotional
journey that continues throughout the book.
The fish in turn are consumed by detached militants who with weapons
and fear drive refugees to take drastic steps, boarding dangerous
boats. Their refugee journey completes the story's cycle.
This is a strong and no holds barred look at the atrocities of
warfare and refugees. Armin Greder's illustrations show a colourless
and bleak world where people's lives are not valued and where human
beings become food for the fishes.
The afterword by Alessandro Leogrande, a journalist and social,
political and environmental writer discusses the refugee issue and
highlights the 12,000 refugee deaths that have occurred in the
Mediterranean Ocean in the last three years. He grieves that the
human story of each death is lost and that the " . . . enormous heap
of lifeless bodies is constantly kept from our eyes, and from our
thoughts".
Richard Noury, the spokesperson for Amnesty International, explains
his reaction to Greder's story on the back cover and comments how
the Mediterranean is " . . . a mass grave: . . . a story of silence,
one with no protagonists."
We the readers are like the real world, silent witnesses to the
plight of the refugees.
This is a picture book for secondary school students but with
empathy and adult support could be used with upper primary children.
The Mediterranean evokes discussion and comment and will
encourage a conversation about an issue that is often highlighted in
the Australian media.
Armin Greder is an award-winning picture book author and illustrator
who has already made us examine our beliefs in The Island.
His latest book will continue the discussion about human rights and
refugees.
I recommend this book to 12 - 18 year olds+.
Jane Moore