REVIEW: Boy, Everywhere

 Book Review: Boy, Everywhere

By A.M. Dassu

This book is about a 13 year old Syrian boy called Sami, who lives a rather normal life in Damascus. He's interested in football, playing games and hanging out with his best friend, Joseph.

But everything changes, from a bomb blast, in which his mum and sister get caught up. They are both injured and his sister loses her speech, due to the trauma.

His family then go on a precarious journey to find a better life in Manchester, UK.

I really liked this book for how realistic it is. It's not just another story, but much so what people are going through in Syria, how their lives were 'normal' and the struggles each individual and families had to go through for survival. I appreciate the journey people had to make just to stay safe.

This book resonates well with me, as I've been to Damascus and Manchester and live in UK.

Sami is a great character, shows what a normal teenage boy likes and how one be mature too. He has good intentions, but sometimes tries to execute it in the wrong way. Much like how many teenagers are these days, but often get misunderstood. I like the fact that he is quite independent and looks out for others, even if it puts him in difficulty.

One of the things I liked about this book is the very sudden shift in Sami's life. One moment he is enjoying time with his friend and next moment he is on a journey to UK, leaving everything behind. This is a life lesson for us, especially those who have privilege lives, that those in Syria  Palestine etc are just as normal as us.

Looking at life from the viewpoint of a refugee, gives one an appreciation in ones own life, but sees them in a better light. We just have to open our eyes and hearts and appreciate one another. Sami's parents were well off, had good careers as Surgeon and School Principal respectively, but they find themselves stacking boxes in a factory and cleaning. Life can have such turns, we ask Allah to protect us all, Aameen.

The book shows how there's good and bad in everyone, Muslim or Non. Like Hassan and his mum have been awful to Sami's family, though the dad was the opposite. But Sami meets a boy at School called Ali, who gives Sami hope and accepts him for who he is. I like Ali's character.

The end of the book did saddened me, hearing the death of his grandmother back in Syria. Such is the sacrifices people have had to and are making.

Alhamdulillah I even got a thank you from the author!