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The Boy at the Back of the Class | LitPick Book Reviews
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The Boy at the Back of the Class
The Boy at the Back of the Class
Onjali Q. Rauf
Top Choice

There used to be an empty chair at the back of Mrs. Khan's classroom, but on the third Tuesday of the school year a new kid fills it: nine-year-old Ahmet, a Syrian refugee. 

The whole class is curious about this new boy--he doesn't seem to smile, and he doesn't talk much. But after learning that Ahmet fled a Very Real War and was separated from his family along the way, a determined group of his classmates bands together to concoct the Greatest Idea in the World--a magnificent plan to reunite Ahmet with his loved ones.

This accessible, kid-friendly story about the refugee crisis highlights the community-changing potential of standing as an ally and reminds readers that everyone deserves a place to call home.

2 Votes

Book Details

Genre: 

  • Fiction

Age Level: 

  • 8 - 12
The Boy at the Back of the Class review by nayeshadiwan
nayeshadiwan

The Boy at the Back of the Class is an emotional drama based on the journey of a young nine-year-old Syrian refugee who is separated from his family and struggles to find a safe place to survive. As Ahmet finds solace with his foster mother, he cannot cover up the mental trauma in his interactions with teachers and kids at school. After learning about Ahmet’s situation, a group of kids in Ahmet’s class embark upon an adventure that makes waves throughout England, in hopes of reuniting Ahmet with his family.  

Rating:
5
Five Star Award
Content Rating:

Content rating - nothing offensive
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The Boy at the Back of the Class review by grammy2023
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grammy2023

Can a group of almost ten-year-olds make a difference? Meet Alexa, Josie, Tom, and Michael, just ordinary kids in an ordinary classroom in England, until the new boy, Ahmet, is assigned the empty chair at the back of the classroom. The fact that Ahmet is quiet, has “eyes like a lion’s,” and at recess spends his time “in seclusion,” adds to his mystique. The playground is abuzz with all kinds of rumors about Ahmet. Are his family spies? Is he under threat of being kidnapped? Does he have a super-contagious disease?

Rating:
4
Content Rating:

Content rating - nothing offensive
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