The Boy At the Back of the Class
(Autor) Onjali Q. RaufThere 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 eight years old (just like me), but he's very strange. He never talks and never smiles and doesn't like sweets - not even lemon sherbets, which are my favourite! But the truth is, Ahmet really isn't very strange at all. 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 be his friend. That's where my best friends Josie, Michael and Tom come in. Because you see, together we've come up with a plan.
Onjali Q. Rauf
Onjali Q. Rauf is a British author known for her impactful and thought-provoking children's books. Her writing style is characterized by tackling difficult and important topics such as social justice, human rights, and empathy in a way that is accessible and engaging for young readers. One of her most notable works is "The Boy at the Back of the Class," which won the Waterstones Children's Book Prize in 2019. This book follows the story of a young refugee boy and highlights themes of kindness, friendship, and understanding. Rauf's contributions to literature have been praised for their ability to spark conversations and promote empathy among readers. Her work has had a significant impact on the children's literature genre, inspiring readers of all ages to think critically about the world around them.