Overview

In this stand-alone companion novel to the acclaimed Boy, Everywhere, A. M. Dassu returns to extend the story of Sami's best friend Ali, who organizes a charity soccer match for their friend Aadam while his whole life is privately unraveling. After their friend Mark's mum wins the lottery and gets a giant house with an indoor pool, Ali and Sami have been having the time of their lives hanging at Mark's house. Even their friend Aadam gets a job there, which means he can make more money for his legal battle for UK residency. But when some money goes missing, Aadam is accused of stealing it--and all three boys are unceremoniously kicked out of Mark's house in suspicion. On top of that, Ali's dad, who abandoned the family when Ali was little, is suddenly turning up everywhere in town, and a half-brother Ali never knew has shown up at Ali's school. Ali feels miserable and resentful about it, making it hard to be a good friend. The boys know Aadam is innocent, and if he doesn't raise thousands of pounds right away, he could get deported back to Syria amidst its civil war. At least Ali has a plan: they'll host a charity football penalty match to raise money for Aadam so he can stay in the UK. But can Ali pull together the match--even if he feels his whole life at home is falling apart?

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9781643796871

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Reviews

"* ""Dassu expertly handles difficult topics relating to the adversity and othering that asylum-seekers and refugees face in ways that are relatable for young readers. She broaches the storyline that explores Ali's personal life with sensitivity, showing the internal upheaval following his father's reappearance, including themes of rejection and anger. This novel is an engaging modern tale that serves to build empathy. An important and triumphant read."" -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review"

"* ""Dassu expertly handles difficult topics relating to the adversity and othering that asylum-seekers and refugees face in ways that are relatable for young readers. She broaches the storyline that explores Ali's personal life with sensitivity, showing the internal upheaval following his father's reappearance, including themes of rejection and anger. This novel is an engaging modern tale that serves to build empathy. An important and triumphant read."" -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review ""This tale of boyhood friendship and caring for your community [is] perfect for reluctant readers who want satisfying resolutions, a lot of playing with friends, and relatable characters who provide new insights into the lived experiences of immigrants and refugees."" -- Booklist"

Author Information

A. M. Dassu is the internationally acclaimed author of Boy, Everywhere, an ALA Notable Book which was also nominated for the Carnegie Medal and shortlisted for the Waterstones Children's Book Prize. She won the We Need Diverse Books mentorship award in 2017 and serves on the Advisory Board of SCBWI-British Isles' Words & Pictures magazine. She is a director at Inclusive Minds, an organization for people who are passionate about inclusion, diversity, equality, and accessibility in children's literature. She lives in the heart of England, and you can find her on Twitter as @a_reflective, on Instagram as @a.m.dassu, or at amdassu.com. Daby Zainab Faidhi is a versatile artist and illustrator acclaimed for her impactful work in animation, illustration, art direction, and painting. Her portfolio features contributions to award-winning film projects, including The Breadwinner, and most recently, co-art directing Merry Little Batman for WarnerBros. Explore her dynamic creations at zainabfaidhi.com.

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