Azzi In Between is an excellent cross-curricular resource that looks at asylum, war, separation and integration and what it is to be a refugee today. It is important to understand that this is similar to events which are happening in the world right now. I would honestly recommend this book to all teachers, adults and children over a certain age/maturity.

Beautifully illustrated, it conveys perfectly Azzi's feelings of loss and displacement in an absorbing, and ultimately uplifting, adventure story. It tells the story of Azzi, a refugee who fled from her own country which was experiencing war to come and live in England.Similarly to other refugee stories that I have read, Garland highlights the underlying sense of unfamiliarity within a country speaking a different language. When Azzi and her parents have to flee their home because the country is at war, Azzi leaves behind everything she knows and loves, most importantly her grandmother. It's very emotive and it's a sensitive topic, children may be refugees themselves who may want to share their experiences or what they went through could be too difficult to talk about so as a teacher, you would have to know the individuals in the class very well.

It's not just about a perilous journey to a new country, but also her struggles with a new language and culture.It's noticeable that in the latter half of the book, the colours start to feel a lot more solid and rooted, and the images feel more constructed around the people as opposed to around the world. She's crafted a kind, warm-hearted and very very quietly provocative book centred around the journey of the titular Azzi. The tapestry of themes around inclusion, helping others, family love, starting anew in a foreign country are wonderfully depicted. To leave your home, your grandma, your friends and everything you own without warning, what would that be like?