HEROES LIKE US

This follow-up to The Boy at the Back of the Class (2019) features two stories in one, following children who make a difference.

Set in the U.K., the first book saw a young Syrian refugee named Ahmet and his new friends become famous in their quest to reunite Ahmet with his family and keep the government and the queen from “closing the gates and borders to refugees like him.” In The Day We Met the Queen, Ahmet and his pals (including the nameless narrator) have been invited to tea with the monarch. But with a stink bomb going off in the middle of an assembly and a protest blocking the road, will they make it to Buckingham Palace in time? The Great Food Bank Heist centers on a different set of characters—Nelson, his sister, Ashley, and their mum, who are struggling financially and who rely on the local food bank. When someone starts stealing food from the bank, Nelson and his friends decide to stake it out and find out who’s responsible. Raúf builds excitement and suspense in each story, capturing the children’s bravery and their determination while also exploring topics such as racism, bullying, and food insecurity; humor leavens some of the more serious topics. Most characters, apart from Ahmet, read as White.

Engaging and a solid conversation starter.