Refugee Boy [Paperback]

Benjamin Zephaniah (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 2002

Alem is on holiday with his father for a few days in London. He has never been out of Ethiopia before and is very excited. They have a great few days togther until one morning when Alem wakes up in the bed and breakfast they are staying at to find the unthinkable. His father has left him. It is only when the owner of the bed and breakfast hands him a letter that Alem is given an explanation. Alem's father admits that because of the political problems in Ethiopia both he and Alem's mother felt Alem would be safer in London - even though it is breaking their hearts to do this. Alem is now on his own, in the hands of the social services and the Refugee Council. He lives from letter to letter, waiting to hear from his father, and in particular about his mother, who has now gone missing...A powerful, gripping new novel from the popular Benjamin Zephaniah

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Zephaniah, a London-based performance poet, sends a strong political message in his realistic account of a young refugee's struggles. With both of his parents' homelands at war, 14-year-old Alem is persecuted because of the family's mixed nationality; his Ethiopian father and Eritrean mother decide that their son will be safest abroad. As the novel opens, Alem's father brings him to London "on holiday" and then abandons him, leaving only a letter to explain his reasoning. While Alem's parents fight for the unification of Ethiopia and Eritrea thousands of miles away, Alem must mount a battle for political asylum. After being moved from an institution to a more welcoming foster home, Alem musters an army of friends and compassionate social workers who help him combat a cold and impersonal system. Rather than delving deeply into his protagonist's emotions, the author adopts a relatively objective stance. Readers see Alem's reactions from the outside, not as an internal process, as the government initially refuses to grant him asylum and later, when both of his parents are killed (his mother in Africa, his father in London). While audience members may feel distanced from the young hero, they will be outraged by the injustice he confronts and moved by the tragedies he endures. Ages 10-up.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Grade 6-9-A dust jacket that resembles an airmail envelope complete with stamp cancellation will lure readers to this somewhat disappointing tale. Alem Kelo is caught in the current political disputes raging between Ethiopia and Eritrea. He and his father flee to London where Alem is left alone to seek asylum with British authorities while his father returns to Africa, where he discovers that his wife is missing. The child is caught in the web of the judicial system as his foster care and sanctuary are determined. While the story has all the elements of a gripping tale, it often reads like a first, rough draft. A prelude to the book, titled "Ethiopia," finds soldiers barging into the Kelos' house. Shooting and shouting result, and the family is ordered to leave the country. An almost duplicate scene labeled "Eritrea" follows. In an effort to show that neither country embraces the union of this Ethiopian man and Eritrean woman and its progeny, the question immediately arises, are the soldiers Ethiopian or Eritrean? Throughout the author merely tells, rarely shows. Wording is awkward and often repetitive. The result is the ponderous text of a story about war and refugees that needs to be told; unfortunately, this effort falls short.
Daniel L. Darigan, West Chester University, PA
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Pub Ltd (July 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0747550867
• ISBN-13: 978-0747550860
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 4.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,034,199 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Interesting topic, wooden characters., June 22, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Refugee Boy (Hardcover)

The topic of refugees is timely and pressing. However, the characters in Refugee Boy are, at best, two-dimensional; it is impossible to empathise with them, because they do not feel real.

For a book that offers engaging characters, as well as being informative, turn to Beverly Naidoo's The Other Side of Truth. The vitality and depth of the characters makes their situation much more urgent and accessible.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Alem Kelo: The Refugee Boy, May 5, 2005

By 

Alaka "Ali" (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Refugee Boy (Hardcover)

This story is about a boy, Alem Kelo. Alem lived in Africa. He lived there with his two parents. His father was Ethopian and his mother was Eritrean. At the time of this story, Ethopia and Eritrea are at war with each other. So the Kelo family are welcome nowhere. In Ethopia, people would tell Alem's father to leave his wife and child. And Alem was picked on and beat up with school. So they went to Eritrea. Where they actually found similar situations. Alem's parents decided it would be best if we were out of Africa during the war. So that he could be in a safer environment, where his parents do not have to fear for his life. So Alem's father, Mr. Kelo, takes Alem on a "holiday" to England. Pays for four days at a hotel and for two days they go out and look around. But on the morning of the third day, Mr. Kelo leaves without telling Alem. Though he does leave a letter. Mr. Kelo left to go back to Africa to try to stop the war between Ethopia and Eritrea. If he could not success, him and Mrs. Kelo would come back to England and they'd stay there with Alem until the war was over. Eventually Alem lives with foster parents. Mr. and Mrs. Fitzgerald. While his stay with them, a letter his father wrote him reached Alem. And it told him that his mother was dead. Of course Alem is overcome with grief and filled with pain and sorrow. But he doesn't let it get in the way of school, or make him forget his manners. While developing a very warm relationship with the Fitzgeralds, especially their daughter Ruth (who becomes like a sister), Mr. Kelo comes to England to be with Alem. But the government wants to send them both back to Africa. During the attempt to try to have them accepted into England, Alem's father is shot and dies. Alem's request to stay in England is granted and he stays with the Fitzgeralds. Though I do not think he recovered quickly over time his heart begins to heal. And he becomes a man that I am very sure his parents would feel very proud of.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars It's all contingent upon your perspective., April 13, 2003

By 

Amy Ensign (Bemidji, MN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Refugee Boy (Hardcover)

Refugee Boy is a book that can be great and mediocre. It was interesting learning about Ethiopia and Eritria in this context. The book does provide young people with a necessary world perspective. It can be a great tool for English teachers to humanize the idea of immigration. This author also opens up the world of England to students who know little about it. I think a lot of good cultural and multifaceted global discussions are created through having students read Refugee Boy.

It seemed as if there were a lot of opportunities here with the subject matter to make students feel more compassionate, understanding, and interested overall in the story line/topics. Yet, it seems like Zephaniah comes up short here. The story seems to be too surface level at times, and I was never sucked into reading this book. I wonder how interested students will be in reading it in its entirety. It most definitely is not an intimidating book for students to read, so this is a plus!

I give this book three stars. Don't overlook the options that this book does create for your classroom or children, but don't expect your ideas and world to be dramatically revolutionized.