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The Boy At the Back of the Class

Onjali Q. Raúf, Pippa Curnick

The Boy At the Back of the Class

Subjects

  • Friends & Family - tears and laughter, and happy ever after
  • Friends & Family - tears and laughter, and happy ever after

Average rating

5 out 5

792 reviews

WINNER OF THE BLUE PETER BOOK AWARD (UK) 2019 WINNER OF THE WATERSTONES CHILDREN'S BOOK PRIZE (UK) 2019 WINNER OF THE SAKURA MEDAL (JAPAN) 2020 WINNER OF THE CHILDREN'S COWBELL AWARD (SWITZERLAND) 2021 WINNER OF THE PRIX JANUSZ KORCZAK PRIZE (FRANCE) 2022 'There used to be an empty chair at the back of my class, but now a new boy called Ahmet is sitting in it. He's a refugee who's run away from a War. A real one. With bombs and fires and bullies that hurt people. And the more I find out about him, the more I want to help ... That's where my best friends Josie, Michael and Tom come in. Because you see, together we've come up with a plan...' On a perfectly ordinary school day, something extraordinary happens: a boy with pale skin, lion eyes and a tattered red rucksack walks in. Unable to speak English and seated at the back of the class, Ahmet 'the refugee kid' becomes the perfect target for bullies and rumours alike. But Ahmet has also captured the attention and empathy of a fellow classmate, who will do anything to help him find his family. Even if that involves a plan - or five, and the Queen herself! Told with heart and humour, The Boy at the Back of the Class is a child's perspective on the refugee crisis, highlighting the importance of friendship and kindness in a world that doesn't always make sense. With beautiful illustrations by Pippa Curnick *BEAUTIFUL GOLD FOIL ANNIVERSARY EDITION NOW AVAILABLE - FIND IT UNDER 'ALL FORMATS AND EDITIONS'*

Reviews

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I enjoyed reading this book on my own. I liked how the new boy was unique to everybody else in his class. Also the chapter 40 winks and how the boy did 40 winks at the boy at the back of the class. When my teacher read it to us there was an emty chair at the back of our class just like in the book. I recmend this book for 7/8/9 +

Countess Gloriana Flattery 09.03.2024

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It is about someone helping a refugee child. It was good and shows that there are kind people in this world. Iwould highly recommend this book.

Doctor Cynthia Possum 07.03.2024

Star Reviewer

Star Reviewer

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I love this book My favourite character is Amhet It is all about refugees I would recommend this book to everybody

Senorita Sapphire Archer 18.02.2024

Star Reviewer

Star Reviewer

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I really enjoyed reading this book with my mum. It had chapters and I got to understand the difficulties refugees face when they come to another country and have to go to a new school. I liked the way the story was written.

Inspector Poseidon Bookmark 18.02.2024

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It is a book about a refugee kid who joins a new school and a young boy who is in his class makes friends with him

Anonymous 10.02.2024

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I have read the Boy at the back of the class by Onjali Q. Raúf. I thought the book was good because it explains the struggles of refugees. Onjali Q. Raúf visited my school and told us about the reasons she wrote the book. The talk was really inspirational and so was the story of Ahmet, the character in the book. The character of Ahmet was based on the baby of Calais whose name is Raehan. The book is a Blue Peter Best Story winner and I understand why. The book has an outstanding storyline and brilliant descriptive writing.

Captain Cornetto Aardvark 29.01.2024

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I have Boyer the jest is a good

Anonymous 23.01.2024

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I loved the book because there's a lot of mysteries and adventure. My favourite character was Alexa [the narrator]. Would definitely recommend it to someone else.

Viscountess Jet Sudoku 05.01.2024

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nice i borrowed this book from a teacher

Mademoiselle Rapunzel Quarantine 20.12.2023

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I like Ahmet the best

Officer Pixie Paddington 16.12.2023

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The boy at the back of the class is a wonderful book! It has lots of suspension and also has great friendship.Alexa is a great friend and she is always looking out for her friends, always.She wanted to help Ahmet to reunite with his parents and she made that happen just because she was looking out for her friends.

Anonymous 12.12.2023

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Are you a little bit?

Anonymous 12.12.2023

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I like this book because when Ahmit came to the school he wasn’t treated fairly as he couldn’t communicate well. The person who sat next to him was unkind and spread rumours to make him sad, her name was Clarisa. Alexa who became Ahmits best friend, along with Josie, Tom and Michael they helped look after him and when he learnt to speak more English, he said ‘thank you friends’. They were happy to be his friend, Ahmit told Alexa that his sister died in the sea and his cat ran away. Alexa wanted to help him, she wrote a letter to the queen, asking the queen not to shut the borders and help Ahmits parents get back Ahmit.

Captain Jet Washington 10.12.2023

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Cool! I loved reading this book

Lady Viper Paperclip 04.12.2023

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I thought it was amazing.This book is incredible and I think everyone should read it.It tells you about a refugee's life and how we can help them.My faverite character was Alexa because she wanted to help Ahmet and try find his family.

Queen Viper Squirrel 18.11.2023

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If you like adventure type of books read this!

Anonymous 12.09.2023

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It is really fun eventful story very unrealistic but cool

Baron Cornelius Armchair 10.09.2023

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This book is a fiction book and my favourite character is Micheal as he all makes me laugh the story is about a boy named ahmet that was a refugee and in a different country. Tom and his friends hear about him and have a plan to tell the queen to let more refugees across the border

King Natty Pawprint 07.09.2023

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It was good because it shows people about what refugees go through and what lawyers do to help the situation they are in.

Baroness Blossom Peninsula 07.09.2023

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Yes i would recommend this to someone else because it also show and tells us to be kind even if someone is a refugee.

Judge Pixie Casserole 06.09.2023

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