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The Boy At the Back of the Class
The Boy At the Back of the Class | Onjali Q. Rauf
18 posts | 18 read | 16 to read
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. . .
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RobES
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Pickpick

Super! Fantastic read for ages 10 - 14 years. An important read in today's world ... raising compassionate young adults 🧡

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JenlovesJT47
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Mehso-so

To ease back into my Litsy Buddy reads, I chose this for #FoodAndLit this month, since we‘re focusing on Syria. I went the audiobook route and was a little disappointed. It‘s a kids book so my expectations weren‘t unrealistic. It‘s set in London and focuses on a group of students who befriend a young Syrian refugee boy named Ahmet. It‘s a little too syrupy sweet for my tastes, but good for kids to read. My complaint lies with the audiobook ⬇️

JenlovesJT47 Narration. It‘s set in the U.K., including the kids making a trip to Buckingham Palace to get the Queen to intercede on Ahmet‘s behalf, yet the narrator has a very prim and proper American accent and it really takes you out of the story. No effort to even attempt a British accent. Again, I think this would be great for kids and it has a great message, it just missed the mark for me. 3⭐️ 13mo
JenlovesJT47 #Syria Now off to find a good Syrian recipe to try! Very excited about this part. 🥳 So happy to be back here. 13mo
40 likes2 comments
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rachelbuckley
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Mehso-so

The Boy at the Back of the Class is about a refugee boy named Ahmet, who fled from Syria to escape the war. While the story itself was a good one and the ending was exactly what you wanted it to be, the writing was juvenile (more so than needed for its target age range) and with the controversy surrounding this author, I can‘t give it my support. 3/5 stars overall, but I would love some other books on this topic that I can recommend to others.

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TheAromaofBooks
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My #BookSpinBingo list for April!! Honestly probably will not get through all of these because a few of them are the first books in a series, which means I will read the rest before going on to the next book on the list (Raven Boys, Seeking Mansfield, Contrary Winds, Woven in Moonlight, and The Blessing Way all have at least one sequel!) Still I'm excited to see how far I get!!

I am still having MAJOR issues with commenting on posts so I am ⬇️

TheAromaofBooks (cont'd) REALLY sorry if a comment I've left on your post shows up multiple times. It's not unusual for me to have to attempt to post a comment 6-10 times at this point before it finally “sticks“. Sometimes I look at the post & the comment is there multiple times, but more often it's only there once despite all the times I've posted it. Honestly, it's driving me batty! This time of the month I have a LOT of posts to comment on & it's kind of ⬇ 3y
TheAromaofBooks (cont'd) sending me over the edge. The above comment I had to save FIFTEEN TIMES before it stayed there - & then it showed up NINE TIMES!! I'm not sure how this will impact Friday's #BookSpin post, which I somehow have to get posted before I leave for work 😡 I did email Litsy today so hopefully this can be resolved. I've tried Litsy on multiple browsers, have tried signing out & signing in, tried rebooting my computer... nothing is helping!!!! 3y
Librariana We appreciate all the work you put into organizing this for all of us, Sarah. Hope they're able to troubleshoot your issue and resolve it 💕 3y
See All 13 Comments
BarbaraJean I‘ve been having the same issue on the desktop version of Litsy... the comment seems to finally stick on the third or fourth try, though. I‘ve started just switching to my phone when I want to comment on something! Which isn‘t always helpful—like over the weekend when I needed to copy/paste tag lists for a buddy read. I can imagine how frustrating this is for your BookSpin posts!! Hope it gets resolved soon! 3y
LibrarianRyan I to am having problems with Desktop Litsy. It wont find books, or if it does find books I want to post about it wont load them. or it will load them and forget. It's so frustrating. I too contacted Litsy, and have heard nothing back. Hopefully your get better service than I did. 3y
Clare-Dragonfly That sounds so frustrating! Maybe you can point back to previous posts for the rules/description so you don‘t have to post all of that again? There‘s still all those people to tag though… also the idea of getting through your WHOLE bookspin list is astonishing to me. I‘m lucky if I knock 3 things off the list 😂 3y
TheAromaofBooks @Clare-Dragonfly - I guess I'm going to hope for the best & if I can't get it all posted people will just have to wait until I get home from work haha I kind of cheat with my BookSpin list now & put the books I'm planning to read anyway on it. I've only cleared my board once, though, & that was Christmas time when I was reading 100% fluff! 😂 3y
UwannaPublishme I‘ve had issues too. I deleted the app and then uploaded it again. Plus I upgraded the software on my iPhone. That seemed to do the trick. 🤞🏻 3y
Heideschrampf I have two weeks off in april, so maybe (just mabe) i‘ll be able to finish a bingo for once! 3y
TheAromaofBooks @Heideschrampf - I'm not sure why life is always trying to interfere with reading time!!! 3y
TheAromaofBooks @UwannaPublishme - I don't hardly use the app so I'm not sure if I would have an issue there or not. Mine are here on my computer. I've tried signing out, rebooting the computer, and then signing back in but it doesn't seem to help. I think I'm just doomed to rage! 😂 3y
UwannaPublishme Hmm...maybe your computer is just crying for some down time! 😂 Hope Litsy can help you resolve this. 3y
TheAromaofBooks @UwannaPublishme - They did email me back today, which was super nice!! And I'm sure my computer probably IS desperate for some downtime 😂 3y
88 likes13 comments
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Cupcake12
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#sundayfunday
1. The tagged book is such a good read for middle graders and introduces asylum seekers in a really sensitive way.
2. Beth O‘ Leary - I‘ve read two of her books now and find she just brings life to characters and her storylines so relatable.
3. In turning the big 40 in August but not made any plans yet as waiting to see what is in store for the UK in the summer.
Great questions @ozma.of.oz

BookmarkTavern Your pick for 1 looks amazing! Thank you for sharing! 3y
20 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Cupcake12
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#thankfulthursday
1. It was actually my daughter who said “Mum, you have to read this”. It was such an inspirational book and looked at being a refugee through the eyes of a child.
2. Everybody taking the time to send cards or well wishes for my birthday yesterday. Thank you 🥰
@Cosmos_Moon
Have you had a go? @runswithscissors007 @Deifio

Deifio Not yet! 4y
runswithscissors007 Happy birthday!!! 4y
Cosmos_Moon Sounds like a good book and happy birthday! 4y
20 likes1 stack add5 comments
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Cupcake12
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#24B4MONDAY
I‘m really pleased that I finished this book by the end of evening. I could never read for that many hours over the three days but I‘m happy with the time I‘ve achieved 🌟 💓

Andrew65 That‘s fantastic, well done 👏👏👏🙌 4y
25 likes1 comment
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Cupcake12
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Pickpick

This is such an important story that needs to be read by children. It contains a topical theme but the author has addressed issues in a way that helps children understand them. ❤️
Governments and some of the world leaders show low levels of tolerance but this beautiful story shows how powerful children can be making their own decisions.
There is some excellent additional information at the end of the book to share with young readers too.
#bekind

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Cupcake12
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The tagged book I‘m reading is just ”unputdownable”. It‘s the story of a young refugee from Syria who is now in London with a foster family and it tells the story of how his new school friends want to help him reunite with his family. This really is clever, thought-provoking, smart, well written book that all primary school children should be encouraged to read. It‘s really opened my eyes to the what goes on in our world.
#showmorelove #kindness

TEArificbooks I just finished The Beekeeper of Aleppo. Also about Syrian refugees. I highly recommend it. I think it should be required reading and get all kinds of prizes. 4y
Cupcake12 I‘ve not heard of that one...will need to take a look x 4y
30 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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Cupcake12
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I‘m quite pleased with my total for May as I‘m home-schooling the girls & running the household! I‘m still managing to find time to read in the evening though. This is probably the most number of books I‘ve read in one month 🥳 I look at some of your book totals in awe and just think WOW 🤩
It was made much easier by the fact that all these books were really enjoyable and easy reads. The tagged book I‘m reading will definitely go over into June.

Cuilin @Cupcake12 Did your girls read them too? I miss that. I loved reading books my girls read too. It opened the door for great conversations. We still sometimes will read together but not as much. 4y
Cupcake12 They read Pages & Co, Calling all the Witches, The Boy at the back of the class and The Matilda Effect....they even make notes and do a book discussion 📚🥰 @Cuilin 4y
Cuilin @Cupcake12 Wonderful, I love that. 4y
UwannaPublishme Way to go! 📚🎉 4y
32 likes5 comments
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Cupcake12
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I‘ve been wanting to start this for a while but my 10 year old daughter has been reading it. Perfect weather outside to start it today and to go towards #24B4MONDAY too

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sailu112
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Pickpick

This is a beautifully written children's book and a must read for everyone. Such pure emotions and vulnerabilities from a 10 year's perspective was brilliant.

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Michellekidwell
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Pickpick

There was an empty chair at the back of Mrs Khan‘s classroom, but on the third Tuesday of the new school year it is filled by a new kid, a Syrian Refugee named Ahmet.

Everyone is curious about the new kid in class. He doesn‘t seem to smile and he doesn‘t talk much!

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LibrarianRyan
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This is an immigration story.

Out August 6

#CoverLove #KidsEdition

38 likes2 stack adds
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Bettlovesbooks
Pickpick

This is just wonderful. A real insight into real life and the story of a refugee through the eyes of children. Definitely a story for year 5/6

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GerardtheBookworm
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Pickpick

A sweet, moving story involving Syrian refugees as told through the main character and his struggles trying to understand his place in a strange, new land. It then moves to his community of peers that help him adjust in this story of empathy, compassion and friendship.

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