Fourteen-year-old Ahmed is stuck in a city that wants nothing to do with him. Newly arrived in Brussels, Belgium, Ahmed fled a life of uncertainty and suffering in Syria, only to lose his father on the perilous journey. Now Ahmed’s struggling to get by on his own, but with no one left to trust and nowhere to go, he’s starting to lose hope. Then he meets Max, a thirteen-year-old American boy.
Lonely and homesick, Max is struggling at his new school and just can’t seem to do anything right. But with one startling discovery, Max and Ahmed’s lives collide and a friendship begins to grow. Together, Max and Ahmed will defy the odds, learning from each other what it means to be brave and how hope can change your destiny.
About the Author
Katherine Marsh is the Edgar Award–winning author of The Night Tourist; The Twilight Prisoner; Jepp, Who Defied the Stars; and The Door By the Staircase. Katherine grew up in New York and now lives in Brussels, Belgium, with her husband and two children. katherinemarsh.com @MarshKatherine
Industry Reviews
"A resistance novel for our time."
The New York Times
"A hopeful story about recovery, empathy, and the bravery of young people."
Booklist
"This well-crafted and suspenseful novel touches on the topics of refugees and immigrant integration, terrorism, Islam, Islamophobia, and the Syrian war with sensitivity and grace."
Kirkus Reviews, starred review
