The boy in the back of the class

World Book Day 2020 Author

Winner of the Blue Peter Book Award 2019
Winner of the Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2019
Shortlisted for the 2019 Galak Prize

Told with heart and humor, 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.

There was an empty chair at the back of my class, but now a new boy named Ahmed was sitting in it.

He's nine years old (just like me), but he's very strange. He doesn't talk, he doesn't smile, and he doesn't like sweets—even lemonade, which is my favorite! But then I learned the truth: Ahmed isn't strange at all. He's a refugee who fled a war. A real war, one filled with bombs, fires, and bullies who hurt people. And the more I learned about him, the more I wanted to help. That's where my best friends Josie, Michael, and Tom come in. As you can see, together we've come up with a plan... with beautiful illustrations by Pippa Cornick.