"A tense graphic novel of life during wartime"
Longlisted for the UKLA Book Award 2022 ages 11-14 | June 2021 Book of the Month
Set in an unspecified time not too dissimilar to now, and in a country that strongly resembles our own, this tense, gripping graphic novel demonstrates just how quickly civilisation can fall apart. Bea lives with her dad, big sister and little brother; her mother has already had to flee their country, which is in the midst of a civil war, the forces of the state fighting the rebel Free Kingdom movement, with civilians bearing the brunt, enduring food shortages, power cuts and bomb attacks along with casual brutality from both sides. The family know they’ll have to leave soon, and the book describes the events that trigger their decision to go and live as refugees. The story describes what it’s like to live in a society where trust has collapsed, and where everyone is scared and desperate. But it underlines too the power of family to hold together during the most difficult times and the importance of hope. Powerful and original, it makes for thought-provoking reading, text and illustrations carrying a very strong message.
Brian Conaghan explores similar territory in his prize-winning dystopian novel The Bombs That Brought Us Together while the refugee experience is captured in A M Dassau’s Boy, Everywhere.
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I have never read a graphic novel before but I absolutely loved this and will be reading lots more.
This graphic novel is very worrying as it is set in a time which could be now with Covid.
It is about a family who have been separated and are trying to get out of their country where there is a civil war. The mum is out already and is trying to get all the paperwork for her family sorted so they can get across safely. The dad is looking after the children.
The story is mainly about the middle girl of three children and how it is affecting her and how she sees the world.
They are going through very scary times, they can’t say anything in case they get in trouble, they can’t always get hold of food and the army are very mean.
The story got me really involved and I loved the illustrations.... Read Full Review
Very good book with pictures and short text.
A good book for a reluctant reader because it has pictures and less text on each page for the reader. I enjoyed this book, it was a good topic and i like to read about other peoples lives in countries that are suffering war.... Read Full Review
This book shows the importance of family and friends above all else and how important it is to stand up for what you believe in, a wonderful read.
No Country is about family, it’s about standing up for what you believe in even if the world is against you and it’ll probably all go wrong. It’s an amazing dystopian novel set in a war-like future where it’s dangerous to even believe anything different. People who don’t obey are disposed of, and never seen again, but people still stand up for what is right, even if it is in secret.... Read Full Review
