The Day We Met the Queen: World Book Day 2020

by Onjali Q. Raúf

Since I became friends with Ahmet, the Most Famous Refugee Boy in the World, all sorts of amazing things have happened. But the most amazingest of all is that the ACTUAL Queen has invited us to Buckingham Palace.

It's going to be the Best Day Ever! Well, a long as Brendan-the-Bully and his Stinking Revenge Plot don't ruin absolutely everything...

Genres: Novels, Middle Grade, Childrens, Friendship, Fiction

96 pages, Paperback

First published February 27, 2020

About the author

Onjali 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.

Reviews

[Alice Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was excited to discover this mini-sequel to my current favourite children’s book. It continues to educate children about the incredibly current and concerning debate surrounding the refugee crisis through the perspective of young children.

In such a short story, Raúf captures the opposing views of reporters, members of parliament, teachers and high-ranking officials at Buckingham Palace to reinforce the message that refugees should be welcomed and accepted into our country.

[Faith Spinks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recommended by my 11 year old nephew because he knew I enjoyed The Boy at the Back of the class. This book is a follow up to that story. A very quick read.

Like the original book it is full of warm humour at the same time as making you think about refugees as people and not just a crisis.

Recommended now by me too.

[Lauren Hanslow · Rating 3 out of 5]

I previously read the boy at the back of the class, which is probably may favourite children's book ever, so this follow-up was highly anticipated. I enjoyed how we got to see the friendship group's trip to see the queen and what this entailed. There was the same level of adventure and excitement as the previous book in the series, but less depth and hidden meanings that could be explored. I was slightly disappointed for this reason and I do not think that this book is necessarily worth a stand-alone read. I would recommend this book for lower KS2 students.

[Craig Upson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had a sneaky suspicion that there would be a link to Onjali’s book Boy at the Back of the Class and I was very pleased that my feeling was bang on (although the cover did provide a slight clue)!

The Gang of Four, along with Ahmet, picked up from where they left off on an adventure to visit the Queen after their previous heroics. A lovely read which celebrates everything that World Book Day should be about – reading for fun. I would wholeheartedly recommend this short read for any KS2 pupil and similar to Onjali’s previous novel, there are lots of discussions that could be had with a parent or a teacher about immigration and refugees. Very cleverly, the book gives you a neutral viewpoint (very topical with the issue of Brexit) but makes you smile when the outcome is kindness, caring and inclusivity.

If this is only the third, I can’t wait to see what comes next!

[tatsha kuansongtham]

The Day we Met the Queen by Onjali Q. Rauf is part 2 of The Boy at the Back of the Class, it is about the day Ahmet and his friends get invited to Buckingham Palace. The book also describes how their community responds to the Queen’s invite. I absolutely love how vivid the author made each scene, and I enjoyed reading the exciting storyline. Since this book was so detailed, I was disappointed that the author did not describe some important scenes in the story. Additionally, it felt rushed at the end. Despite these drawbacks, I would still give this book a 5 out of 5 stars because it was described well and I found the community’s response to the Queen’s invitation very interesting.

[Ella · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic sequel to The Boy at the Back of the Class. Ahmet and his friends are off to their visit with the queen but as they are telling their school about it in assembly, someone sets of stink bombs in the hall. There are then protests in London about refugees and whether they should be allowed into england. A great story with some very important themes which could generate good discussions with children. A lovely book to read after the big at the back of the class, I’m sure children would thoroughly enjoy it!

[Auro Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book!

I really liked that it is meant for children to know a bit more about such a complicated and difficult matter.

I loved how the issue is approached and how all the characters react to it. I liked to see the good thing to do but also the bad one so children can start to realise that they have the choice to be nice and kind to people that have it more difficult than others.

[libs :p · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really good book and a really good sequel.
The first book is definitely a little bit better, but that is probably because it is about 3 times the length.

This is a really important book and I definitely think that it should be compulsory reading.

This book is so important and just has such a good narrative. This book is also really eye-opening about the way that people react to refugees. This is so important and I'm so glad that I read it.

[Quinn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely book following on from ‘The Boy at the Back of the Class’. The characters journey is never simple and straight forward, they have obstacles to get over, which are written well influenced by true events. To hear these events from a child’s perspective is eye opening and allows you to empathise on a whole other level.

[Megan]

Due to the author's transphobia and ableism, I have decided to remove my star rating and review for this book.

Instead, I recommend Other Words For Home by Jasmine Warga, which tackles similar themes (and is a beautiful book in it's own right): https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...

[Samiya · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Day We Met the Queen" had an accurate representation of how children think, talk etcetera. Also, the book handles immigration in a way children will understand the book. Ahmet was a great example of being a refugee because of the discrimination he faces in school and outside of school, with classmates and even MPs. Onjali did a great job

[Liam · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Day We Met The Queen is a beautiful, touching follow up to the Boy at the Back of the Class, and continues the story of these brave children standing up for a better world, in the same charming, naive style.

[Emma Rosen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was OK, but not as enjoyable as The Boy at the Back of the Class, although of course it's just a companion. I thought it was a shame that the actual meeting of the Queen was only a page, the rest of the boo was just politics really. Still good to bring awareness to these issues.

[Reba Khatun · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely story carrying on from Onjali Rauf's debut. Ahmet and his friends are off to visit the Queen but Brendan-the-bully is out to stop them. And so it seems some adults are too. Another exciting story with heartfelt writing.

[Tayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

I haven’t read the main book this is linked to but I still found this to be very important & powerful. It shows how refugees are treated, even if they’re a child, by other kids, adults and those in power - media, teachers, MPs etc.

[Noele Randall · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice little sequel to The Boy At The Back Of The Class where you find out what happens immediately after the first book finished. Read in one sitting. Will definitely be putting both books in my classroom library next year (year 5).

[Chloe · Rating 5 out of 5]

A follow up to the book The Boy at the Back of the Class, equally as charming. Could be used as a starter for getting children to come up with their own questions to the Queen or a descriptive writing piece on what happened during the time inside the palace.

[Thalia S. A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first time I read it? I didn't understand. The second time I read it? It was super funny! It was also pretty interesting.
I'd rate it 5 stars, but I put 4. That's because, when the problem is solved, it doesn't go into all the details, if you get what I mean.
Overall, it was brilliant.

[Ashleigh Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was cute although a little unnecessary and a little pointless. I would have preferred if they’d gone on another adventure or if Ahmets parents had actually come in and they’d had a play date at his house or something.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A mini-sequel to The Boy at the Back of the Class, written especially for World Book Day 2020, this was a nice way to reconnect with the characters from the original story and continue their adventures.

[Cute Rabbit · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was good.👍🏾 I kind of forgot the first book when I read this so I couldn’t really understand it.But still it had a really good message of people needing to be welcomed in place and not made to leave which they want to be their home.🏡

[Bethany Fisher · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this short book, but having not read the first book I felt the story on its own was missing something.

I think young readers would enjoy this little book and maybe learn something about people who are considered different.

[Andrea Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great mini sequel for The Boy At The Back Of The Class. And at £1 a book, the World Book Day books are always a bargain!

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet another lovely follow on story.

[RuthyMB · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute little book, and funny! 😀

[Ripley Mason · Rating 5 out of 5]

I still love onjali q Rauf 's writing it's so good

[Jackie Mc · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book!
Great World Book Day Book!
will read agin sometime

[Karina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming World Book Day follow up to the fantastic The Boy at the Back of the Class.

[Timothy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice little story as a follow up but nothing like the boy at the back of the class.

[Kerrie Reid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written story with the added twist when we learn who the narrator is!