Mozhdah Jamalzadah on the humanity of The Boat People
In her opening argument for The Boat People by Sharon Bala, Mozhdah Jamalzadah draws parallels between her family's experience of fleeing their own country with that of the novel's characters and explains how the story humanizes the ongoing refugee crisis.
"As a refugee myself — watching firsthand what my parents went through to get us to safety here in Canada, leaving all they've ever known and loved, seeing their desperation, not knowing if we would survive to see another day — I connected with this book instantly. The Boat People gives the refugee crisis a human face. It's about humanity and understanding — about opening your doors to another human being who has lost their home, loved ones and everything they've ever known due to war and circumstances out of their control. It makes us see others differently and even understand ourselves a little better."