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Escape: One Day We Had to Run by Ming & Wah

Title: Escape: One Day We Had to Run

Author: Ming & Wah

Translator:

Illustrator: Carmen Vela

Publisher: Lantana Publishing

Date Published: 2021

Format: Hardback

Genre:

Book Category: Picture Book

Age Range: 6-8

Original Title: First published in English

Country of Origin: United Kingdom

Escape: One Day We Had to Run

by Ming & Wah
Age Range: 6-8

Escape: One Day We Had to Run is a beautiful and innovative book that charts the true stories of remarkable escapes. Throughout history, whether because of war, famine, slavery, intolerance, economic and political upheaval, or climate change people have been forced to leave their families and homeland. These twelve stories show how people from different corners of the world have courageously overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles in their flight to escape and be free.

The headings of each story act as a powerful introduction – ‘Defy’ Go with your gut. Do what is right. Disregard orders; ‘Cling’ Don’t let go. Hold tight. Never give up; Tunnel. Dig. Dig. Under the wall. Faster, Deeper. Dig – and set the narrative tone for stories that range from historical to contemporary.

From ‘Disguise’ – Bonnie Prince Charlie fleeing in disguise from Scotland to France in 1745; ‘Stowaway’– slaves escaping from southern slave states to northern free states in the USA and Canada between 1850-60 and to brave and dangerous escapes during World War II such as ‘Defy’ – where a Chinese diplomat helps people flee the Nazi regime from Austria to China and ‘Pedal’ – a young couple fleeing on homemade bicycles hours before the Nazis invade Paris.

There are also stories covering more recent history such as ‘Tunnel’– an escape under the Berlin Wall from East to West Germany in 1964 and ‘Fly’– a daring feat from Czechoslovakia to Austria in 1984 during the Cold War. And finally bringing the collection of stories very much up to date with ‘Cling’ – a refugee fleeing the war-torn Damascus in Syria in an overloaded dingy from Turkey to Greece in 2015.

The two authors Ming & Wah are identical twins who have published two previous children’s books and live in Hong Kong and Los Angeles. They have created an emotive and inspiring series of personal narratives which show determination, courage, and resilience. There is a nice balance of refugee and migrant stories that are all very different but ultimately share the same goal of reaching safety and freedom. Spanish illustrator Carmen Vela has provided stunning and dramatic illustrations in a bold graphic style that capture the mood of the text.

On the final page of the book, it lists Articles 13 and 14 of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights: the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state and the right to leave and return to any country, including their own; the right to seek and enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution.

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