Brilliant book and planning was aimed at Y4 but very easily adapted. Included are English and Humanities Knowledge Organisers which may help. This is a fun engaging book, and it breaks down the refugee crisis for middle-grade readers. Very compassionate, and well written. It was heartwarming listening to their discussions about refugees, they were very empathetic and sympathetic towards the refugee boy in the book.

If you really want something, you have to keep trying for it. It's nice when adults tell kids the "truth about life," rather than keeping kids in the dark about world matters. The best books leave you with more questions than answers. The more questions you have, the smarter you'll be. You should never be really horrible to somebody who is horrible to you. Books are like people; if you look past their covers, they'll take you on a great adventure. Refugees don't just look for a home, they look for peace. I like how the friends try to help Ahmet. He isn’t the person they all think he is going to be. It teaches us a life lesson: that we don’t have to make up what people are. It helps us to understand a refugee’s experience.This Ks2 resource focuses on Ahmet and allows your class to delve deeper into the character and the reactions and actions of other characters.

Sometimes I think people like to believe a lie even when they know it’s a lie, because it is more exciting than the truth. But the truth is, 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 be his friend. The intention to bring controversial global problems like the refugee crisis to the attention of young minds through fiction is admirable, but saccharine, unreal novels like this fall wide of the mark and don’t even succeed as entertainment. The plans of the kids were dangerous but also very sweet. It is very brave of them to do those things for Ahmet. They could have let the adults handle it but instead they decided it was time to do it themselves before it was too late. Sure, I wouldn't encourage any kids their age to do the same thing, but this is fiction. I had a laugh that they also had presents with them for the Queen, they really take no chances. So eine wichtige und liebevoll erzählte Geschichte! Und so gut, dass es ein Kinderbuch mit dieser Thematik gibt! Es ist dabei kindgerecht geschrieben, aber auch so berührend und fesselnd, dass es auch ein wertvolles Buch für erwachsene Leser ist!Themes and topics:Migration and immigration, the refugee crisis, belonging, friendship, courage, tolerance, making a difference This is a good book about a boy who meets a refugee child. He wants to help him find his family. They bring him treats after school. The friends find out that the gates are closing and that no one else will be allowed into the country. The friends ask the Queen to keep the gates open… I liked how the parents and the teachers took their time to explain what was happening to the kids, especially the MC's mom was perfect with this. She showed some newspapers, she explained, and also talked with her daughter on what she thought about this. And after the event with the big plan I loved how the adults protected the kids and patiently told them what to do (No comment!) and what not to do.

Ahmet, oh he was just such a wonderful character though I had some tears due to what he has experienced. His story was just so sad (though I had a laugh because of the innocence of the MC and her reactions to the story). I loved seeing him get more and more comfortable with his new environments, and how hard he was trying to learn English. I was happy to see him open up more and find his place in this new home. Sadly, the adult characters in the story fare no better than the syrupy kids. Rauf’s presentation of single-parent mum, racist gossip and anti-refugee member of parliament are all taken from the “lazy stereotyping” drawer. Cardboard adults to match cardboard kids.This story is about immigration, I like how the main character isn’t the refugee boy himself but one of his class mates so you’re able to take on the view that other children in the class take towards this boy. The kids in the classroom might be intrigued by the identity of the new boy, but readers will not be so slow. The new boy is Ahmet, a Syrian refugee who, separated from his family, has somehow got to Britain, ending up in social services care. Alexa makes it her mission to be a friend to Ahmet, and in doing so, she tries to find a way to help him find his parents. He is struggling to adapt to his new life in London. Fortunately, there is a set of instant friends waiting in his new classroom all ready and eager to make a big difference to his life. If only solutions to situations like this were so simple.