Your Book Review
'REFUGEE BOY'
by BENJAMIN ZEPHANIAH
When I first looked at the book I thought the story was going to be long-winded and all about seeking refuge in a different country. It turns out my thoughts were right but the story I had in mind was different to the story in the book which surprised me. Whilst I was reading images and sorrowful emotions came flowing through my mind. They were ones that I haven’t come across or experienced before. Like the thought of fleeing from your own country without will, feeling frightened and isolated of the new place you are in, being constantly bullied, feeling depression from war and other disasters in your home and having your family ripped out of your life like a page in a book. These were some of the terrible events that a young boy encountered whilst coming to a new world.
Once I had read the book I learned more about refugees seeking shelter from a different country and how difficult it is being forced to move from your own home to go to a new country where everyone is a stranger to you. There were some moments in the book that were sad and some that were funny and happy which I found quite interesting.
I really like the characters that Zephaniah has created in the book because you can imagine what the pictures of the young boy Alem and his family would look like.
In real life there are some refugees in England that come from Ethiopia and Eritrea.
Alem and his parents come from those two countries and speak Amharic.
He is half Ethiopian and half Eritrean.
Over all I thought this was a heart warming book for any age to read.
Rating: 9 out of 10
Reviewed by Neelam, aged 15.