So this is my first book review! 'Hmmmm.... what book should I start with?' I thought, when I had a knock on the door. @MrPSands on Twitter had sent me 'The Boy at the Back of the Class' as a #spreadkindess gift, which was written by human activist, Onjali Q. Raúf. I knew that this book had rave reviews by the teacher Twitter community. And they were definitely right about that!
What is this book about?
It all starts with a new boy named Ahmed, who suddenly appears at the back of the classroom, with no explanation as to how and why he is there. The 9 year-old (sorry, 9-and-3/4-year-old), alongside his three best friends (Tom, Josie and Michael), decides to befriend the new pupil with sweets and oranges and even football games, until they find out that he is a refugee from Syria and is separated from his parents. With such determination, curiosity, ingenuity, bravery and innocence, the 4 musketeers come up with the 'Greatest Idea in the World' and head off on an adventure, which ends up shaking up the whole of the UK. Who would have thought that one small idea from a primary school kid could cause such a storm?!
"There used to be an empty chair at the back of my classroom. It wasn't a special chair. It was just empty because no one was sitting in it. But then, one day just after school started, the most exciting thing that could ever happen to anyone, happened to me and my three best friends. And it all began with that chair"
Well... what can I say about this book?
First of all, this book centers on one of the huge global issues that we hear on the news regularly: the refugee crisis. This book approaches this topic with enormous sensitivity and even humour at times. It also tackles the various beliefs that various people have about this matter and how children can relay or question these beliefs onto others. This is mostly done via children relaying and querying what they have heard adults saying to them. It is the questioning, and the conversations that follow, that really help the reader to ask their own questions about refugees and begin to think about their approach to refugees. After all, children hear everything you say!
This book also tackles segmentation, inclusion and prejudice. Brendan-the-Bully, Mr Iron, Mr Greggs and the media are some of the prime characters who oppose individuality, empathy through lying an deceiving. In one scene in particular, Mr Iron turns a blind eye to a bully's bad behavior because they are both white. The four musketeers destroy segmentation and that we all face in the world today through childhood innocence (no spoilers!). Maybe everyone should take this as a life lesson from these children!
"Everyone knows Brendan-the-Bully hates anyone who's different from him, but it was the first time I had seen him look so angry and mean"
Lastly, it is the only book that has made me teary. Do you want to know why? No Comment! Read the book to find out :)