Refugee Boy
£2.18
don t waste your money - As I was reading this book I got the impression it was written for children, but it would have been an insult to even a young child.There was no depth to the characters for you to feel sympathy for them. It was also not at all related to the real world of refugee s and prejudices.Sorry, It could have been a really good story,and did get my full attention in the opening chapter, but lost it s way in the telling.
AMAZING BOOK! - 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.
Very Touching - I m no expert on the English language but I agree with the teachers views about the quality of literature, there are better books out there. However if anybody argues about the quality of the story, then they obviously are dead or have no heart! It is an amazing and very touching story, if you let yourself get into it. Ignore the flaws and this book will turn your emotions inside out, very good once again Mr Zephania.
Wooden - no other author could have got this published. - The story of Alem and his asylum seeking in the UK is topical and the issues that his sudden arrival here raises, of bullying and responsibility, are not uninteresting - which is what the star is for. GCSE readers coudl link this book with some of the Poetry from Different Cultures in the AQA anthology (notably Not my Business ), and if I could have given half a star for that I might have. Beyond that... The characterisation is almost non-existent - I had to make excuses to the class for the lack of any emotional feel to the book, and the stereotyped bully, angst-ridden teen, stiff head teacher and mumsy do-gooder relief workers made most of us cringe. The vocabulary is dull (is there really any need to use the word periodically twice in three lines? Or the word large twice in one sentence?). The lack of descriptive language or imagery is embarrassing, although occasionally there is a perfunctory simile. The dialogue is wooden and unbelievable. This book, in contrast to the author s poems, is as humourous as being buried alive - a contrived joke about mass debates is not humour. As I read it I realised that this book would be bought largely on the strength of Zephaniah s name, and was, presumably, published on that basis too. An average year ten student with the time could do quite as well, and that s no example to set to our classes, is it?
Could have been better - This book gives you an insight into the lives of children seeking asylum.I feel the book is aimed more at the younger audience and have only given it 4 stars as it would have been better if the author had delved more into the characters feelings and to share with us more of his experiences.