Sea Prayer

Short yet powerful, this beautifully illustrated work conveys a heartfelt message about the plight of displaced populations. On a moonlit beach on the eve of a perilous journey across the sea to a better life, a father cradles his sleeping son as he reflects on their life in Homs, Syria, and awaits a boat they hope will take them to safety. He recalls the city's swift transformation from a peaceful home to a deadly war zone. Written as a fictional letter from a father to his son, Marwan, this poetic story is enhanced by Williams's moving, ink-washed, watercolor art. Stunning coral/green landscapes are replaced by ominous dull gray images that represent the deterioration of Syria. The combination of text and illustrations, expressed as a prayer, evokes the father's compassion more than his fear. Although briefer than Hosseini's other works, this vivid portrait of refugees who left everything behind and endured heartache and loss is no less potent.