What an emotional journey. Everyone needs to read this story about a family from Syria. Their journey starts off so normal, as we hear about their day to day lives, but then it changes. People start demonstrating against the government and the government fights back with devastating consequences.

I loved the characters, the family, and the message this book is sending out. It's heart-breaking and unforgettable.

I have been an Elizabeth Laird fan since I was a child and her book Red Sky in the Morning has stayed with me for many years. She is one of those authors who doesn't shy away from difficult subjects and writes so eloquently that her readers are never patronised. The story of Welcome to Nowhere is no different.

This is the story of Omar and his family as they flee civil war in Syria. A politically relevant and accessible story which educates young readers of the very real dangers experienced by those living in conflict. I found this a heartbreaking and important story which reminds us that we all want the same things regardless of which country we are born in.

Beautifully written, Laird is a must read for all YA readers as her writing is well grounded yet challenging in a very human way.

Although technically a children’s/young adult book, this is a novel that can equally be read and enjoyed by adults. It’s the story of 12-year-old Omar and his family who are caught up in the deadly Syrian civil war. Forced to flee their home and become refugees, the depiction of their plight is moving, powerful and insightful. Their tale is emblematic of all the refugee stories and brings the conflict to life in a way that I found authentic and convincing. The author has worked in refugee camps and met many refugees and her first-hand knowledge informs her writing to great effect. She manages to explain the origins of the conflict such that I felt I understood a little more of what has now become a seemingly intractable tragedy. Her description of the heartache and desperation of all those forced to flee their homes has given me a deeper understanding of why so many try to get to Europe, especially the young men who seem to have no other options. This is a very impressive piece of writing indeed and deserves a wider readership than just a younger one.

Elizabeth Laird's Welcome to Nowhere seemed to me to be a good way for older children (9/10+?) to explore issues raised by war in general and the war in Syria in particular. It is the story of Omar, a young boy who dislikes school and wants to be a rich businessman when he grows up. So far, so much like kids all over the world (including any who have ever seen The Apprentice...) but Omar and his family live in Bosra, a city in Southern Syria with a rich history. The city is popular with tourists until it becomes caught up in the conflict in 2012 and Omar's displacement begins. At first they move cities and then to the country as their new home also becomes unsafe. Omar isn't interested in politics, although his brother Musa (who has cerebral palsy) does become involved, but it is very hard for anyone, even children, to avoid fighting and religious conflict in Syria. Eventually the family has to leave the country altogether and they make their way to a refugee camp in Jordan.

I liked the characters in this book. They seem very much like real children (even if they are in situations you would hope that no child could ever be in) and all the politics and dangers are seen through their eyes. I didn't feel that these dangers were glossed over but, because our main storytellers are children and therefore, perhaps, a bit more adaptable to change they are moved on from quite swiftly. I would imagine that this book could help youngsters (and adults) to understand what it could be like to experience war first hand yet from a civilian viewpoint.