The Boy At the Back of the Class cover art

The Boy At the Back of the Class

 Preview
LIMITED TIME OFFER

3 Months Free

£5.99/mo after 3 months. Cancel monthly.
Get this deal
Offer ends on 15 July 2026 at 11:59 BST.
More purchase options

The Boy At the Back of the Class

By: Onjali Q. Raúf, Pippa Curnick
Narrated by: Imogen Wilde
Get this deal

£5.99/mo after 3 months. Cancel monthly.

Buy Now for £14.35

Buy Now for £14.35

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.

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 nine 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 then I learned the truth: 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 help.

That's where my best friends Josie, Michael and Tom come in. Because you see, together we've come up with a plan. . .

(P) 2018 Hachette Children's Group©2018 Onjali Q. Raúf Fiction Growing Up Growing Up & Facts of Life Islamic Heritage Literature & Fiction Friendship Heartfelt Refugee Funny Feel-Good
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1

Critic reviews

Raul's book is at once tearjerking and chuckle-inducing and will go a long way to restore faith in human nature.
Onjali Raúf's debut, The Boy at the Back of the Class (Orion), illustrated by Pippa Curnick, offers a child's eye view and an ambitious, adventure-filled plot. When a new boy is introduced at school, no one is exactly sure where he has come from; what is a "refugee kid", anyway, and how can Ahmet be helped to feel that he belongs? Though the narrator's voice is overly young at times, this is a lovely, warm-hearted first novel, a celebration of courage and friendship leavened with mischief.
All stars
Most relevant
wow I loved this book so much it was an emotional rollercoaster. I never used to like reading but this book has really showed me how much I like reading

wow what an amazing book

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This is a great book about a refugee boy called armitt and it has inspired me to take action in the refugee crisis

The boy at the back of the class

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
A thought provoking story to introduce the subject of refugees to children and adults. Covers lots of other topics as well.

Thought provoking

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. thoroughly engaging- loved it. lovely way to address real situations that affect us 👏 👏

Beautifully told!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
My son (7) absolutely loves this book, he's listened to it almost back to back for the last week! Such a fantastic story of friendship, determination, empathy and understanding - love it! An important theme told in a child-friendly way.

Wonderful book, impotant & timely story!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews