Apr 5, 2018
Boy 87
Shif, a young boy in a nameless but presumably Middle Eastern country, flees to avoid conscription. It's the start of a long journey to what he hopes will be freedom in England, meeting and losing different people along the way. The country is nameless, but the journey echoes those many people, many children, are being forced to take simply to stay alive. This is a heartfelt little book; it would be great to use in a classroom as the start of a discussion about refugees. Be aware, while the actual violence is restricted to some pushes and shoves and some 'offscreen' shooting, it's clear that some characters die during the book. A boat tips over and it's clear some people have drowned.