In the mid 2000-teens, migrants from the Middle East, Asia, and North Africa risked their health, security, and livelihoods in hopes of finding better lives in Europe. By the tens of thousands they walked from Syria, crammed into rafts from Turkeye’s shores, and paid smugglers to ferry them across the Mediterranean from Morocco and Tunisia. Then, an even more difficult trek ensued as they attempted to move out of migrant concentration camps and walk, bus, train, and walk some more, crossing through countries ill-prepared to cope with such masses.
Naji, an improbably intelligent 13-year-old Syrian migrant, is code-named Firefly by MI6, when the British spy agency discovers that he holds vital intelligence about ISIS terrorists with designs on an attack in Western Europe. Paul Samson, a former MI6 agent, is sent to find Naji amidst the hordes. ISIS leader, Al-Munajil, is also hunting for Naji, hoping to reclaim critical digital records that Naji has stolen. The race to find the wily Naji, a lovable escape artist drives the plot, but the descriptions of migrant drudgery as families and children try their utmost to find succor is what makes the book a fine read.