Boy 87
Ele Fountain
Subjects
- Friends & Family - tears and laughter, and happy ever after
Boy87 is an original and beautifully written page-turner of a novel about love, survival and the strength that can be found in a hopeful human spirit' -- Sarah Crossan, Carnegie Medal Winner 'Shif is an unforgettable character, and his story should be read by everyone who cares about one of the unfolding tragedies of our time' -- Award-winning author Elizabeth Laird Shif is just an ordinary boy who likes chess, maths and racing his best friend home from school. But one day, soldiers with guns come to his door - and he knows that he is no longer safe. Shif is forced to leave his mother and little sister, and embark on a dangerous journey; a journey through imprisonment and escape, new lands and strange voices, and a perilous crossing by land and sea. He will encounter cruelty and kindness; he will become separated from the people he loves. Boy 87 is a gripping, uplifting tale of one boy's struggle for survival; it echoes the story of young people all over the world today.
Reviews
In my previous life as a solicitor, I did a lot of work for Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children so their stories are close to my heart. I think this book is extremely well written and an absolutely great introduction to the plight of refugees - great to read to students in conjunction with some "own voices" stories.
LizzieLibrarian
Absolutely gripping, had to keep reading until I found out what happened to the main character Shif, a boy refugee. The story starts with him arriving on a dinghy in the UK. The rest of the story is about what led up to this arrival. It is SO well written and suitable for older primary onwards. Would most definitely recommend. Provocative, compelling with a hopeful, but not a fairy tale ending.
JuanaP