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Quick answer: If your child liked The Boy at the Back of the Class, try The Star Outside My Window, The Day War Came, Other Words for Home, Home of the Brave, Refugee and Wonder. These stories teach kindness and what it means to welcome a new friend.
Onjali Q. Raúf's 2018 novel is told by a nine-year-old girl whose class gets a new student, Ahmet, a refugee from Syria. She and her friends decide to help, in the way children do, with big ideas and warm hearts. Readers who love it want more stories of friendship, kindness and understanding. These 15 books suit ages 7 to 12 and are good for sharing at home or in class.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Star Outside My Window | Onjali Q. Raúf | 8-12 | readers who want more Raúf |
| The Day War Came | Nicola Davies | 6-10 | younger children |
| Other Words for Home | Jasmine Warga | 9-13 | readers who like verse |
| Home of the Brave | Katherine Applegate | 8-12 | readers who like short books |
| Refugee | Alan Gratz | 10-14 | older readers |
| Wonder | R.J. Palacio | 8-12 | readers who like school stories |
| Front Desk | Kelly Yang | 8-12 | readers who like humor |
| Wishtree | Katherine Applegate | 8-12 | readers who like animals and nature |
| Stepping Stones | Margriet Ruurs | 6-10 | picture book readers |
| Amina's Voice | Hena Khan | 8-12 | readers who like community stories |
| Illegal | Eoin Colfer and Andrew Donkin | 10-14 | graphic novel fans |
| Inside Out & Back Again | Thanhha Lai | 8-12 | readers who like short, poetic books |
| The Night Diary | Veera Hiranandani | 9-13 | readers who like history |
| Amal Unbound | Aisha Saeed | 10-14 | readers who like strong heroines |
| Where Are You From? | Yamile Saied Méndez | 4-8 | young children |
1. The Star Outside My Window by Onjali Q. Raúf
Aisha, an 11-year-old in foster care, wants to find her brother. A moving follow-up from the same author.
Best for: readers who want more Raúf.
2. The Day War Came by Nicola Davies
A picture book about a girl whose school is destroyed by war and who then has no chair at a new school. Short, powerful and good for group reading.
Best for: younger children.
3. Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga
Jude leaves Syria for Cincinnati and adapts to a new school. A verse novel about identity.
Best for: readers who like verse.
4. Home of the Brave by Katherine Applegate
Kek, a boy from Sudan, adjusts to life in Minnesota. Written in free verse, gentle and funny.
Best for: readers who like short books.
5. Refugee by Alan Gratz
Three kids in different times flee their countries. Fast-paced and intense.
Best for: older readers.
6. Wonder by R.J. Palacio
Auggie, who has a facial difference, starts fifth grade at a school for the first time. A story about kindness and difference.
Best for: readers who like school stories.
7. Front Desk by Kelly Yang
Mia Tang manages the front desk of a motel and helps immigrants. Funny and moving.
Best for: readers who like humor.
8. Wishtree by Katherine Applegate
A tree named Red narrates a story about welcoming a new family. Gentle and thoughtful.
Best for: readers who like animals and nature.
9. Stepping Stones by Margriet Ruurs
A picture book with stone sculptures by Nizar Ali Badr, telling a Syrian family's journey. Beautiful and short.
Best for: picture book readers.
10. Amina's Voice by Hena Khan
Amina, a Pakistani American girl, worries about changing friendships and her mosque. Warm and kind.
Best for: readers who like community stories.
11. Illegal by Eoin Colfer and Andrew Donkin
A graphic novel about a boy who journeys from Ghana to Europe in search of his brother. Powerful and visual.
Best for: graphic novel fans.
12. Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai
Ha leaves Vietnam in 1975 and settles in Alabama. A verse novel with humor and heart.
Best for: readers who like short, poetic books.
13. The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani
Nisha writes letters to her mother during the 1947 Partition of India. Warm and thoughtful.
Best for: readers who like history.
14. Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed
Amal, a Pakistani girl, is forced into a powerful family's servitude and fights back. Brave and moving.
Best for: readers who like strong heroines.
15. Where Are You From? by Yamile Saied Méndez
A picture book in which a child answers the question “Where are you from?” with love for family and place. Warm and poetic.
Best for: young children.
How to Choose
For ages 5 to 8, read picture books like The Day War Came and Where Are You From?. For ages 8 to 10, try Wonder, Front Desk or The Boy at the Back of the Class. For ages 10 and up, choose Refugee, Illegal or Amal Unbound. Read the more serious books together, and talk about how a child might feel in a new country.
Related: What Age Is The Boy in the Striped Pajamas Appropriate For? A Parent’s Guide · 15 Best Books for a 15 Year Old Boy: Epic Reads That Hook Teen Readers
Frequently Asked Questions
What age is The Boy at the Back of the Class for?
It is recommended for ages 8 to 12.
Is it based on a true story?
The story is fiction, but the author, a refugee volunteer, was inspired by real children she met.
How can I talk to children about refugees?
Start with a story, ask how a character feels and connect it to the child's own experiences of being new.
Does the book have a sad ending?
It deals with serious topics but ends with hope and friendship.