He has come to London in a boat with his family - another Refugee, running from war, searching for a safe place to live.
On the way, the sea claimed his young sister and his dog. Now his parents are missing so he lives with a foster family until they are reunited.
On the first day at school, the other nine year
olds keep looking at him. One particular girl gives him a smile and a lemon
sherbet.
She is part of a group of best friends that decide to take him under
their wing and help him adjust to his new life.
But Ahmet is the food that
bullies feed on, and things will not be easy regardless of the good intentions
of the group.
How can children discover the whereabouts of
missing persons? Perhaps the Queen can do something! She is in charge of
everything and is a powerful figure that can get things done. How hard can it
be? The group set out with a plan, carrying tea bags and biscuits anticipating
afternoon tea and conversation with the Queen.
With the gates closing to refugees in a matter of
days, the children’s goal of finding Ahmet’s parents becomes paramount. They
are definitely not prepared for what follows.
The friends find themselves tangled in a great and
life-changing adventure. They are arrested for interrupting the Changing of the
Guards at Buckingham Palace, become front page news with cameras and
journalists begging for interviews, and show the world the meaning of
compassion, friendship, acceptance and the joy gained in embracing something
new.
The empty chair has come to symbolise the space
made available for Refugees. Short-listed for the Blue Peter Award 2019, Boy at the back of the Class is narrated
from a child’s perspective. Full of innocence and hope, humour and
determination, this book reflects how children view and feel about the Refugee
situation.
The book intends to bring attention to the plight
of refugees, especially children separated from their parents, and the
psychological damage that this separation causes them. This is a project included in the many
undertaken by Onjali Q. Rauf, founder of Making Herstory, whose many roles in
life are worth looking into. This is her first book.
Title:
Boy At the Back of the Class
Author/Illustrator:
Onjali Q, Rauf
Publisher:
Hachette, $14.99
Publication
Date: July 2018
Format:
Paperback
ISBN:
9781510105010
For
ages: 9+
Type:
Middle Grade Fiction
