The Boy at the Back of the Class tells the story of a group of Year 5’s and their attempts to befriend new student Ahmet, a nine-year-old boy who has been forced to flee his war-torn country. They might not speak the same language, or like the same things, but Alexa and her friends are determined to help him, especially as they start to learn more about what Ahmet has been through to get to their school.

There is so much charm in this story – from the very first moment, the characters are earnestly and authentically middle schoolers, with the perfect levels of cringe to make it believable. The main four friends are exactly like any group of nine-year-olds: fighting for gold stars, making up team names and choreographing spy routines just to find someone in the playground. When Ahmet shows up, their attempts to interact with him are just as earnest. They try asking lots of big questions (like where his family is), loudly explaining football to him (he already knows how to play – far better than them!) and even offering him lemon sherberts (with only a bit of pocket lint on them). Although Alexa and her friends haven’t got quite the right idea, their constant kindness is heartwarming and genuine.

Ahmet’s journey as a refugee from Syria is told perfectly for the age group the show is aimed at, answering all the difficult questions that come up without holding back on the details of what Ahmet went through – the boats, the refugee camps, the loss of his little sister and his separation from his parents. It never sugar-coats the views of ‘grown-ups’ either, who Alexa and her friends discover are not at all welcoming to people like Ahmet, even when those grown-ups are the ones in charge of the government.

The plot gets a little less grounded in reality at the end, with a daring plot and a letter to the Queen resulting in Ahmet’s reunification with his parents, but it was a perfect ending to inspire young children to act, to show them what political action looks like and what it can achieve. Against all odds, kindness can overcome any obstacle in this heartwarming production, and the power of young friendships can change the world.

To write to a local MP, like Alexa and her friends did, The Boy at the Back of the Class encourages you to go to: https://members.parliament.uk/members/commons

Lily Tibbitts