The Day of the Pelican

In this poignant novel by Katherine Paterson, Meli Lleshi, an Albanian girl from Kosovo, reflects on how her innocent drawing of a teacher sparked a series of life-altering events. As her family becomes refugees amidst the conflict with Serbian oppressors, they journey through hardship and danger before finding refuge in a small Vermont town, thanks to a church group. However, their new life in America is further complicated by the repercussions of 9/11, testing their resilience and sense of belonging.