“The Great Food Bank Heist” and “The Day We Met the Queen”
Written by Onjali Raúf
This book shares two short stories of children from England who are facing real world challenges: refugees and food insecurity.
The first is a follow up to the story of a Syrian refugee boy called The Boy at the Back of the Class. Ahmet and his friends have been invited to meet the queen despite opposition from politicians, and even some fellow classmates and teachers, who are anti-immigration for refugees. The kids don’t let anything stand in their way, not stink bombs or protestors.The second story is about Nelson, who lives with his mom and sister. They are scraping by to make ends meet each month and receive help from a food bank. When the food bank’s shelves start looking bare Nelson and his friends make it their mission to find the thieves who are stealing the food donations.
This author does a great job talking about hard issues in a relatable way for kids. I wish I’d read The Boy at the Back of the Class first because the characters’ backstories seemed interesting, but the story can be a stand alone. And now that Queen Elizabeth has died that story feels a little dated, but overall it’s a good read to broach big topics and teach kids that they have the ability to make a difference in the world.Reviewed by Rachel Whicker, Librarian, Arcadia Elementary
Review shared in November 2023
Rating: ★★★★✩ (4 stars)
Interest Level: Grades 3-5
Heroes Like Us: Two Stories
Written by Onjali Raúf
Delacorte Press
168 pages
Release Date: November 15, 2022
ISBN: 9780593488195
A review copy was provided by the publisher.
