Wasim's Challenge

Another of Ashley's perceptive short novels about his endearing young hero Wasim, who faces the everyday challenges with which his mid-primary school readers will be familiar, especially being away from home and family for the first time.

Wasim has an additional pressure; it is Ramadan, and he is determined to fast to show he is growing up, but does so secretly because he fears ridicule and being sent home. Because he binge eats when dusk comes, he is wrongly identified as the thief when food goes missing at the hostel, but shows great courage when his group is lost on Snowdon.

Ashley, a teacher, aided by Pankhurst’s humorous illustrations, offers an engaging series for newly confident readers, particularly boys.