"A powerful, emotive and essential read, opening our eyes to the very real experience of so many across history. In a world where so many are still displaced by war, and othered as a result, The Endless Sea is an engaging, moving and necessary reminder of the need for compassion and humanity."
March 2025 Debut of the Month
An authentic, emotional and ultimately uplifting insight into the real-life experience of a family forced to leave their home and life to seek refuge in another country in the aftermath of the Vietam war, which, as we find out from the Author’s Note, is based on the direct experience of Chi Thai and her family.
You can absolutely see the influence of Chi Thai’s experience as a filmmaker in the story. It is thoughtfully paced, in terms of the narrative and emotional journey. It doesn’t shy away from the life-changing ramifications of the experience, highlighting the hardship and sheer peril faced by those in this position, as well as the hope that might be found by those who risk their lives to try to build a new life elsewhere. This is also picked up in Linh Dao’s illustration, with scenes presented from a range of perspectives, angles and with thoughtful use of colour and tone, reminiscent of cinematic techniques. We’re immediately connected with the family through the endpapers, presenting photographs of the family at different points in their lives.
The exquisite partnership of words and images are sensitive to the subject matter and the characters represented. Both the author and illustrator are originally from Vietnam, ensuring authenticity and quality of representation. The pairing of the spare but perfectly chosen words and the carefully observed illustration ensures that a challenging and emotive topic is made accessible to its child audience.
It would be a valuable experience to read alongside Francesca Sanna’s The Journey, to provide insights into a shared experience across people from different parts of the world, highlighting the universality of the refugee experience over time and allowing us to empathise deeply with those affected.
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