Boy 87

(12 reviews)

Author: Ele Fountain

Publisher: Pushkin Children’s

Fourteen-year-old Shif and his best friend Bini are ordinary boys with big ambitions, but their world implodes when they attract the attention of the military "giffa". Wrenched from their families, they’re sent to a remote desert prison, where their cellmates are barely clinging on to life.

However, the boys’ arrival sparks hope in the imprisoned men, and they give everything to ensure their escape. Reaching the nearest town, Shif has only just begun the perilous journey which he hopes will end in safety and freedom.

Set in an unnamed country, this is a timely and important book which illuminates the realities of life as a refugee. The first-person narration simply but powerfully conveys Shif’s terror at the violence and cruelty he encounters, as well as his sense of loss. The horrors he is escaping are all too real, but this is ultimately a story about the power of kindness and the strength of the human spirit.

More books like this

The Big Amazing Poetry Book: 52 Weeks of Poetry from 52 Brilliant Poets

Author: Various chosen by Gaby Morgan foreword by Roger McGough Illustrator: Chris Riddell

There is something for everyone in this superb poetry collection, which features a different poem for every day of the year. Splendidly diverse in subject, genre and style, this rich tapestry of verse is beautifully woven together by Chris Riddell’s characterful line drawings, which adorn every page.

Kicked Out

Author: A. M. Dassu

Best mates Ali, Sami and Mark organise a fundraising football event to help pay their friend’s legal fees when his asylum claim is rejected and he faces deportation to Syria. A powerful and thought-provoking read, with hope and friendship at its heart.