Somewhere in the Unknown World: A Collective Refugee Memoir

Content Warning: This section of the guide discusses depictions of war and displacement, miscarriage, infant death, depression, and other mental health conditions.

Many of the stories collected in Somewhere in the Unknown World demonstrate the importance of community in times of war or displacement, highlighting that, at all stages of the refugee experience, community is essential to survival. Chapter 6, “When the Rebels Attacked,” emphasizes the importance of community specifically in times of active war. As she tries to navigate caring for her children in a warzone, the narrator, Siah, twice relies on members of her community for survival. First, a “neighbor and dear friend” (66) agrees to accompany her on a dangerous trip to buy diapers shortly after their neighborhood is attacked by rebels. The text suggests that the neighbor’s solidarity is the result of the fact that she is also a mother: “We both said, ‘Diapers are important.’” (66). The fact that Siah is not alone when she encounters the rebels ultimately saves her life. Later, as the rebels’ interrogation grows more violent, Siah encounters another member of her community, “a friend of my husband’s” (67), and “turn[s] helplessly toward him” (67) in a silent plea for help.