content warnings: war, death, bigotry, bombings, violence
representation: syrian muslim main characters


“All I can think tonight is how deep the sea, and how vast, how indifferent. How powerless I am to protect you from it. All I can do is pray.”


This is perhaps the most gut-wrenching, devastating thing I've read all year, and it's not even 50 pages.

Sea Prayer is an illustrated book which contains a father's letter to his young son the night before they are to attempt to flee Syria. It was inspired largely by the refugee crisis, but specifically by the story of a three-year old boy who drowned in 2015 when he and his family were trying to find safety in Europe.

This entire book is drenched in sadness, with wistful remembrance of a more peaceful past and a father despairing at the world his son is being forced to grow up in. The images are simple but beautiful, perfectly conveying the tone and message of this book.

This is definitely worth a read, no matter how much it costs.