What You Wish For features stories by John Green, Meg Cabot, Ann M. Martin, Cornelia Funke, R.L. Stine, Francisco X. Stork, Karen Kesse, Cynthia Voigt, Jeanne DuPrau, Alexander McCall Smith, Sofia Quintero, and Joyce Carol Oates; poems by Nikki Giovanni, Naomi Shihab Nye, Marilyn Nelson, Gary Soto, and Jane Yolen; and a graphic story by Nate Powell – all about wishes, and all contributed pro bono.  The book also contains a Foreword by actress and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Mia Farrow; a statement from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, António Guterres; photos from the refugee camps; and an essay about why libraries are important for the Darfuri refugees.  Half of the authors participated in a book launch event at UN Headquarters in October (photos at http://on.fb.me/q0Tf6u).

What You Wish For received a starred review from Booklist Magazine, was recently nominated for the 2013 Isinglass Teen Read Award in New Hampshire, and was named a Best Story Collection in the 2011 Pennsylvania School Librarians Association Young Adult Top Ten or so Fiction Titles list.

On World Refugee Day, June 20, we will be announcing details of the first refugee camp library funded by the book, thanks to the support of our readers and authors.

Each year on June 20th the United Nations and countless civic groups around the world celebrate World Refugee Day.

World Refugee Day was established by the United Nations to honor the courage, strength and determination of women, men and children who are forced to flee their homes under threat of persecution, conflict and violence. Millions need your help.

Most people in America don’t realize – there are over 43.7 million refugees and internally displaced people around the world and of those, UNHCR provides lifesaving assistance and protection to 33.9 million of them.

Imagine being the mother of a sick and hungry child and having to decide between risking your life staying in a conflict or leaving behind everything in search of safety. UNHCR provides tents, shelter, supplies and life-saving services to refugees – 80% are women and children. Millions of refugees need help all around the world – 1 family torn apart by war is too many.

Our goal is to share refugee stories with you – to get the word out, so compassionate people across America will extend their generosity and concern to support –1 family at a time. You can help us. Please take action now.

On average, refugees spend 17 years living in refugee camps.  YA booklovers can probably relate to that figure — 17 years — and what it meant in their own lives.  Many of the Darfuri refugees are already in year 8 or 9, all the while lacking access to libraries that can help with their education and can help them deal with past traumas and the enormous difficulties of their present situation.

This is attributed from the website run by USA for UNHCR

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