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The Game I Will Never Forget
Just after his tenth birthday, the last thing Zak expects to hear is that his mum is having a baby and he has to give up his room for an ageing old grandmother who is coming to live with them!
With the help of his friends and a series of cheeky pranks, Zak is convinced it'll be no time before he can reclaim his rightful territory!
But Zak soon discovers that his nani is no ordinary old grandma but a former chess prodigy, able to outwit and outdo him - and his friends - at every turn.
Just as both players begin to forge a mutual respect and a friendship that might finally overcome all obstacles, Zak begins to notice things. Like how Nani sometimes forgets where she is... Or who Zak is...
In a desperate bid to ensure his nani never forgets again, Zak enters her into the chess competition of a lifetime.
But will Zak's nani remember long enough to play?
With the help of his friends and a series of cheeky pranks, Zak is convinced it'll be no time before he can reclaim his rightful territory!
But Zak soon discovers that his nani is no ordinary old grandma but a former chess prodigy, able to outwit and outdo him - and his friends - at every turn.
Just as both players begin to forge a mutual respect and a friendship that might finally overcome all obstacles, Zak begins to notice things. Like how Nani sometimes forgets where she is... Or who Zak is...
In a desperate bid to ensure his nani never forgets again, Zak enters her into the chess competition of a lifetime.
But will Zak's nani remember long enough to play?
269 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 28, 2025
12 people are currently reading
14 people want to read
About the author
Onjali Q. Raúf
27 books285 followersOnjali Q. Rauf is the founder of Making Herstory, an organisation mobilising men, women and children from all walks of life to tackle the abuse and trafficking of women and girls in the UK and beyond. In her spare time she delivers emergency aid convoys for refugee families surviving in Calais and Dunkirk, and supports interfaith projects.
Her first novel, The Boy at the Back of the Class, has sold over 100,000 copies and won multiple awards. Her second book, The Star Outside My Window, publishes in October 2019.
Her first novel, The Boy at the Back of the Class, has sold over 100,000 copies and won multiple awards. Her second book, The Star Outside My Window, publishes in October 2019.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 22, 2025
7.5/10
September 28, 2025
Another fantastic, book by this author, the emotions one gets from reading her books are overwhelming and heart felt,
October 7, 2025
I grew up on children’s books and whenever I hit a reading slump, I still find myself reaching for one from the shelf. There’s just something comforting about them. This one’s about Zak, a boy whose life is thrown into chaos when his Nani (grandmother) moves into his bedroom and he has to shift to the attic. To win his room back, Zak and his friends draws up a full on battle plan.
This book actually made me laugh out loud and, unexpectedly, it even made me tear up. The writing never felt heavy, it just flowed. Zak’s friends - Milo, Dahlia and especially Aoife, are hilarious. Aoife had me cracking up with her habit of quoting her mum’s magazines. At one point, she tells Zak his Nani is "gaslimping" him (she meant 'gaslighting" ) and the group immediately checks Zak’s leg to see if it’s limping. I had to put the book down for a second, I was laughing so hard.
And Nani isn’t just the prank target, she gives as good as she gets. Instead of ratting Zak out to his parents, she’ll quietly pull off her own mischief, like sneaking popping candy into his milk. But beneath all the fun, something deeper is going on. Zak slowly begins to notice that Nani’s memory slips aren’t just quirks and what starts off as a prank war becomes something much more meaningful.
Watching Zak try to help his once-brilliant chess grandmaster Nani, by playing chess with her and even taking her to a tournament, gives the story a real emotional pull. Honestly, this book felt like a hug. It’s funny, chaotic in the best way and quietly moving in moments I didn’t see coming.
Pick this up if you love stories with heart, hilarious kid logic and grandparent who steal the show.
This book actually made me laugh out loud and, unexpectedly, it even made me tear up. The writing never felt heavy, it just flowed. Zak’s friends - Milo, Dahlia and especially Aoife, are hilarious. Aoife had me cracking up with her habit of quoting her mum’s magazines. At one point, she tells Zak his Nani is "gaslimping" him (she meant 'gaslighting" ) and the group immediately checks Zak’s leg to see if it’s limping. I had to put the book down for a second, I was laughing so hard.
And Nani isn’t just the prank target, she gives as good as she gets. Instead of ratting Zak out to his parents, she’ll quietly pull off her own mischief, like sneaking popping candy into his milk. But beneath all the fun, something deeper is going on. Zak slowly begins to notice that Nani’s memory slips aren’t just quirks and what starts off as a prank war becomes something much more meaningful.
Watching Zak try to help his once-brilliant chess grandmaster Nani, by playing chess with her and even taking her to a tournament, gives the story a real emotional pull. Honestly, this book felt like a hug. It’s funny, chaotic in the best way and quietly moving in moments I didn’t see coming.
Pick this up if you love stories with heart, hilarious kid logic and grandparent who steal the show.
November 2, 2025
Another amazing story by Onjali.
I read this one with my son, and he loved it. We cried and smiled with this lovely story.
My son loves playing chess, and my mum, his nanny, also died with dementia during the pandemic :(
I read this one with my son, and he loved it. We cried and smiled with this lovely story.
My son loves playing chess, and my mum, his nanny, also died with dementia during the pandemic :(
October 9, 2025
Another brilliant book by one of my favourite authors. Read it in one sitting!
October 10, 2025
A book I read for year 7 book group. I heart warming story with lovely insight into Bangladeshi family life and focussing on dementia. Really good read for that age group.
November 11, 2025
As always, Onjali tackles a tricky and heartbreaking subject and writes about it in a fun, beautiful, compassionate way.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews