Refugee Boy
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Product Description
Product Description
Alem is on holiday with his father for a few days in London. He has never been out of Ethiopia before and is very excited. They have a great few days togther until one morning when Alem wakes up in the bed and breakfast they are staying at to find the unthinkable. His father has left him. It is only when the owner of the bed and breakfast hands him a letter that Alem is given an explanation. Alem's father admits that because of the political problems in Ethiopia both he and Alem's mother felt Alem would be safer in London - even though it is breaking their hearts to do this. Alem is now on his own, in the hands of the social services and the Refugee Council. He lives from letter to letter, waiting to hear from his father, and in particular about his mother, who has now gone missing...A powerful, gripping new novel from the popular Benjamin Zephaniah
From the Author
It’s a hard life being labelled ‘political’. It seems that because I’m constantly ranting about the ills of the world I’m expected to have all the answers, but I don’t, and I’ve never claimed to, besides I’m not a politician. What interests me is people. When I hear politicians saying that we are being ‘flooded’ by refugees, I always remind myself that each ‘refugee’ is a person, a person who for some reason has left everything they know and love to find safety in a strange, and sometimes hostile country. I wrote ‘Refugee Boy’ because I realised that every day I was meeting refugees, and each one of them had a unique, and usually terrifying story to tell. I have seen refugee camps in Gaza, Montenegro and other places around the world but when I met Million and Dereje Hailemariam, two teenagers who were being denied asylum in Britain, I knew that I had to write a story that would illustrate the suffering and the struggles that many asylum seekers have to endure. Million and Dereje’s parents feared for the lives of their boys, they did not want them to grow up in an environment where they would witness war on a daily basis. I have also met children whose parents were executed in front of them, or who themselves had been kidnapped and tortured. For ‘Refugee Boy’ I borrowed from the many stories that I have heard and created a story that I believe many refugees would recognise. I would like to know that anyone who reads the book would think before they accuse refugees of looking for a free ride. We all want to live in peace, we all want the best for our families. The Celts, the Angles, the Saxons, the Jamaicans are all refugees of one sort or another. What kind of a refugee are you? And what are you scared of?
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
25 of 26 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
WOW!!! Meet Alem. His Mother is Eritrean, His father Ethiopian, and with both countries at war, Alem and his Family are neither safe or wanted in either country. Then his father does something which at first seems horrid, but really shows love towards his son. Follow Alem as a Refugee. Be careful. This book is sizzling hot with love compassion tears and in the end joy.
27 of 29 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
A heart rending story that shows how strong children can be. Although this is similar to Face which looked at a teenagers ability to cope with change, it is much more challenging about topical issues. My low ability class of 14yr old boys have begged me to buy this book after my description of reading it in one sitting and ending up in tears. It covers the problems of family break ups, bereavements and friendships. A rollercoaster ride.
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I dont read many books but i choose this because i thought it was going to b a good read, i was right. I couldn't put this book down. It is very touching to read. As the main character and myself were rufly the same age i found it easy to understand him but i would encourage any person of any age to read this book.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
An emotional rollercoaster
I found that Refugee boy is a book that takes you on a emotional rollercoaster . It makes you think how Alem must feel as his parents are in a mixed marriage and both countries are... Read more
Published 17 days ago by TheWelhams
Very bland novel...
This novel had a strong meaning at heart, but I found it extremely tedious to read. I understand it revolves around a very touching topic - that of failed asylum seekers, becoming... Read more
Published 1 month ago by BlueHippo
"Refugee Boy" by Benjamin Zephaniah
Benjamin Zephaniah's way of narration is very natural and one just can't help but just flow with the emotion of words. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Gozde
refugee
the book came in a short time and in a very good quality. plus it wasn't expensive. i'm very pleased with my purchase.
Published 6 months ago by Joana Silva
brilliant book
This is a book well worth reading! The book draws you in straight away - it doesn't have any dull moments at all. Read more
Published 7 months ago by customer
Beautiful - read it in one sitting
Just a lovely book, written through the eyes of 14 year old Alem. The style is quite similar to The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas in terms of a child not fully understanding the... Read more
Published 8 months ago by K. L. Orrah
Incompatablity of African Nations
A thought stimulating novel about human relations in which a happily married couple,the husband being Ethiopian and his wife Eritrean,make decisions on how their son should be... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Dr. David Gateshill Hardy
Great Book
this is a great book i would recommend it to anyone as it is very touching. Meet everyone from the book, i cant put it down an amazing book!!! BUY NOW :D
Published 16 months ago by Chris
Moving story
This books leaves you wet with tears... a very moving true story.. a definate recommend and useful addition to your library. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Sharon
Suitable for both adults and children
This is a children's book by the poet, I think its one of his early books. Its about a boy who comes to England from Ethiopia, and his struggle to get asylum in Britain. Read more
Published 19 months ago by miss_spookiness
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