Release: June 12th 2018
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Listening Library
Source: Amazon
Find it at: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N
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Fourteen-year-old Ahmed finds himself stuck in a city that wants nothing to do with him. Newly arrived in Brussels, Belgium, Ahmed fled a life of uncertainty and suffering in Aleppo, Syria, only to lose his father on the perilous journey to the shores of Europe. Now Ahmed’s struggling to get by on his own, but with no one left to trust and nowhere to go, he’s starting to lose hope.
Then he meets Max, a thirteen-year-old American boy from Washington, D.C. Lonely and homesick, Max is struggling at his new school and just can’t seem to do anything right. But with one startling discovery, Max and Ahmed’s lives collide and a friendship begins to grow. Together, Max and Ahmed will defy the odds, learning from each other what it means to be brave and how hope can change your destiny.
About the Author:
Katherine Marsh is an award-winning author of books for children and young adults including Nowhere Boy, winner of the Middle East Book Award; The Night Tourist, winner of the Edgar Award for Best Juvenile Mystery; Jepp, Who Defied the Stars, a New York Times Notable; and The Door By The Staircase, a Junior Library Guild selection. Moreover, a former journalist and managing editor of The New Republic, Katherine spent three years in Brussels, Belgium with her family and flock of chickens. She now lives in Washington, DC with her husband, two children, two cats, rabbit, and five chickens.
Nowhere Boy Review:
“Nowhere Boy” is a beautiful story of friendship and hope that touched my heart.
Firstly, I loved how the author tackled the story of the Syrian refugees and how they have suffered for a middle-grade audience. I think it’s essential to have books out there to educate younger readers on how people from some countries are suffering and how we can be empathetic and helpful towards them at an early age.
My heart went out to Ahmed from the first page, and I was rooting for him to find his father. The author writes him in such a beautiful, vulnerable way that, just like Max, you want to help him. I thought the author wrote him perfectly, from his love of gardening and orchids to how he communicates with Max. Similarly, Max is adorable, and I loved his sense of adventure and how he supports Ahmed no matter what. While the two don’t have much in common or speak the same language, I loved how the author formed their friendship and created a strong bone between them. Also, even the supporting cast like Claire and Oscar add nicely to the mix.
The story will make you laugh, cry, and even tense you at certain moments. I was glued in the second half as Max and Ahmed go on their adventure. Moreover, I wondered what would happen to them, particularly when Inspector Fontaine has his eyes on them. On a side note, I also liked how the author captured the beauty of Brussels in the book.
Overall, I adored “Nowhere Boy” and thought it was an excellent middle-grade novel that I encourage everyone to select and read.
