A review by bickie
The Boy At the Back of the Class by Onjali Q. Raúf

1.0

I am still struggling with what I think of this book in terms of what it teaches kids about privilege and activism. Anti-refugee and, to a small extent, anti-immigrant, feelings of other people are addressed primarily by the MC's mother (along the lines of, people are afraid of people who don't look like them, and people can be silly). MC's grandmother escaped the Nazis and helped others escape. Overall, I am disturbed by the kids' taking action without telling Ahmet; it feels very savior-ish. One key concept of activism is "nothing about us without us." I'm also disturbed a bit by the excitement about getting famous and meeting the queen engendered by the Idea, though the MC talks about feeling that Ahmet and his reunion with his parents is the most important goal.

I didn't realize the MC was a girl until the conversation with Mr. Greggs near the end.