The Boy at the Back of the Class

Set in London in the 2010s, The Boy at the Back of the Class examines what it’s like to be a refugee through the character of Ahmet. Ahmet is a nine-year-old boy who fled his home in Syria to escape the ongoing war there. During his difficult journey, Ahmet was separated from his family and eventually arrived alone in England, an unfamiliar place where he doesn’t know anybody. He also doesn’t speak any English…

When Alexa, the novel’s protagonist and narrator, meets her mysterious new classmate named Ahmet, she’s immediately curious about him. She’s eager to get to know him and learn what it means that Ahmet is  a “refugee kid.” She asks her mother about refugees and Syria, Ahmet’s home country, so she can understand Ahmet better. Alexa also drafts a list of questions she wants to ask Ahmet, including “What sports do you like best?”…

At its core, The Boy at the Back of the Class is about the importance of kindness and friendship. Over the course of the novel, Alexa learns that a little bit of kindness can go a long way, such as when she gives her new classmate, Ahmet, a pomegranate to help him feel more welcome at school. Her thoughtful gift makes Ahmet happy because the fruit reminds him of his home in Syria, which…

Throughout the novel, Alexa remembers sayings and bits of knowledge her dad passed on to her. He died when she was six years old, and now nine-year-old Alexa keeps him in her memory by recalling what he taught her. When Alexa feels uncertain, she reminds herself that her dad used to say, “if you really, really want something you have to keep trying for it,” and she lets this advice motivate her. On another occasion…