Nowhere Boy: perspective & empathy

Nowhere Boy by Katherine Marsh is a chapter book with alternating points of view that enrich the modern-day story.  First the reader meets Max, a 13 year-old American who has freshly arrived in Brussels, Belgium to live with his family for the year while his father works for NATO.  Max is unhappy to learn that he is being sent to a neighborhood French-speaking school. He struggles to fit in and his lack of understanding the language doesn't help.  Max is also adjusting to seeing a higher number of Muslim followers in his community and the influx of Middle Eastern refugees.

On the alternating chapters the readers meet 14 year-old Ahmed, a Syrian refugee who has lost his family and freshly arrived in Brussels, too.  But when he learns that he will be sent back to where he came from he runs away from the tent city in the center of town and seeks the shelter and safety of Max's cellar.  While Max and his family are away from the house, Ahmed sneaks food and cleans his clothes while deciding what to do next.  

When Max and Ahmed finally cross paths the story picks up the pace and the action increases.  They develop a friendship, trust and bond that brings much understanding to the plight of refugees and stereotypes about terrorists.  The last half of the book is a whirlwind as Max and some of his trusted friends from school help Ahmed in life-altering ways.  When the city goes on lockdown to find an Islamic terrorist, the stakes are even higher to keep Ahmed hidden.

The best part of this story is what Max is learning about the history of hiding Jewish people in his neighborhood during World War II.  These stories cause him to change his ethical views and look outside of himself to do what is right.  Since the author lived in Brussels, the city itself is another important character that comes to life in the story.  

Middle grade readers can connect to this story in many ways.  Prejudice, stereotyping and the push vs. pull factors of immigrating lead to rich discussions about the systems that are in place in our world.  

What would they do if they were in Max's place?  

What would they do if they were in Ahmed's shoes? 

 Readers might also be new to this country. Can they relate to any of the feelings that Max and Ahmed felt arriving in Brussels?

I was able to win a copy of this book through the I'm Your Neighbor group whose focus is on immigration literature. There is a Reader and Educator Guide that is available for free here, too.