Overview

Almost half the people displaced worldwide are under 18, yet their voices are rarely heard. This book records the experiences of children arriving in Britain from Hitler’s Europe in the 1930s to those escaping war in Ukraine in 2022. It follows the journeys of war-traumatised children from Mogadishu to Mile End and from Syria to a Scottish isle. Some followed their parents to the ‘motherland’ from the former British Empire. Others came independently to escape forced marriage or military conscription. These powerful testimonies shed light on children’s motivations, trials and achievements, including in adult life, providing critical insight into how the British – both individually and collectively – have welcomed or shunned child migrants. Importantly, Eithne Nightingale links these stories with contemporary issues such as the Windrush Scandal and Britain’s Illegal Migration Act 2023. Situated in its historical and political context, Child Migrant Voices in Modern Britain makes vital reading for those studying modern British history, migration and human rights as well as those working with child migrants. It will also appeal to a general audience interested in inspirational life stories. For more information on the book, related events and to watch award-winning films on child migration see childmigrantstories.com.

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9781350332614

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Reviews

This is a superb piece of committed scholarship weaving together, through oral history, a powerful range of child migrant voices from the 1930s through to the present day. When the British government is treating young asylum seekers and others with disdain, it is crucial to restore their humanity; Eithne Nightingale’s book does with care, subtlety and compassion * Tony Kushner, James Parkes Professor of History, Parkes Institute, University of Southampton, UK * Drawing on know-how and contacts from a career working in adult education and museums, Nightingale’s sensitive collation of stories is remarkable for the sheer diversity of the experiences it details. -- Sarah Birch * Hackney Citizen *

This is a superb piece of committed scholarship weaving together, through oral history, a powerful range of child migrant voices from the 1930s through to the present day. When the British government is treating young asylum seekers and others with disdain, it is crucial to restore their humanity; Eithne Nightingale’s book does with care, subtlety and compassion * Tony Kushner, James Parkes Professor of History, Parkes Institute, University of Southampton, UK *

Author Information

Eithne Nightingale is a Postdoctoral Research Assistant at Queen Mary University of London and V&A Museum of Childhood, UK. She is the co-editor, along with Richard Sandell, of Museums, Equality and Social Justice (2012). She is also an award-winning writer, photographer and filmmaker, and is currently involved in producing multi-media content on child migration (www.childmigrantstories.com) and experiences of home during the Covid-19 pandemic (www.stayhomestories.co.uk).

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