Sea Prayer

Sea Prayer (2018) by Khaled Hosseini is a short graphic letter from a father to his son as they flee Syria. It follows the unnamed father’s memories of home in Syria as he prays for his son’s safety. Combining poetry, watercolor illustrations, and vivid storytelling, this book defies easy genres. While a graphic novel, the book plays with pages that are both empty of images or empty of text. The text takes the form of both a letter and stanzas of poetry. Hosseini is known for his novels, and this poetic departure builds on his work with the United Nations where he is a Goodwill Ambassador for the UNHCR or the United Nations Refugee Agency. In collaboration with the UNHCR and his own foundation, Hosseini donated the proceeds of Sea Prayer to lifesaving relief efforts for refugees around the globe. While set in the city of Homs in Syria and directly addressing the dangers faced by those about to journey over the Mediterranean to Europe, Hosseini dedicates the book to all refugees who died at sea.

Hosseini was born in 1965 in Kabul, Afghanistan, and throughout his life, his family relocated due to his father’s career as a diplomat, though they eventually settled in Paris.