ESCAPE: One Day We Had to Run, written by Ming & Wah and illustrated by Carmen Vela. Lantana, Lerner Books. Thomas Allen & Son. 2021. $24.99 ages 9 and up

 

"A warming climate is wreaking havoc on the earth, 
washing away coastlines, and threatening coastal 
cities and islands. In 2007, Ioane Teitiota left the 
Pacific Island of Kiribati for New Zealand. He applied
for a visa to remain there because rising sea levels were 
endangering his home country."

The stories presented in this book, written by twin sisters, are harrowing and hopeful. They happened throughout the world, and date back to 1745. The escape of Bonnie Prince Charlie (Prince Charles Edward Stuart) was precipitated when he did his best to take the throne as Protestants and Catholics fought over who would rule Scotland and England. In order to avoid being captured he disguised himself as 'Betty Burke', a lady's maid. It was his fate to spend the rest of his life in a variety of disguises. 

The tales are set on double-page spreads, headlined by a one word title showing the means of escape for the people involved:

"disguise

DRESS LIKE A LADY. 
ACT LIKE A LADY. 
PRETEND."

The twelve escapes happened across the world, and range from 1745 through 2007. Following the table of contents which lists the verbs meaning escape in alphabetic order, a world map places and names the escape routes and their dates. Readers will find it helpful as they read of the brave journeys undertaken for many different reasons. Most are made to escape famine, persecution, slavery, climate change, violence, poverty, oppression, and war. 

Each spread focuses on one story; the descriptions are telling and brief, and their final destinations hopeful; the artwork beautifully matches the text and its tone. The will to survive is resolute, and its impact memorable for middle years classrooms where heroes, immigration and refugees are subjects for thoughtful discussion and research.