Age rating and parents' guide:The Boy at the Back of the Class
by Onjali Q. Rauf
Ages 9–14
The Boy at the Back of the Class by Onjali Q. Rauf is best for children aged 9–14. It has mild violence, a few mildly scary moments, no romance and no bad language. Worth knowing: Refugee backstory.
When nine-year-old Ahmet arrives in their classroom, an empty seat at the back is finally filled. He does not speak English and rarely smiles, but a determined group of classmates soon discovers that he is a refugee who fled war in Syria and became separated from his family. Offers space for thoughtful conversations about empathy and difficult choices.
Content ratings
How much of each a parent can expect, from none to strong.
- Violence
- Mild
- Scary moments
- Mild
- Romance
- None
- Bad language
- None
Worth knowing: Refugee backstory
Content checked by Dhiraj Bodade, co-founder of Bookstaken, on .
At a glance
- Early chapter book
- Easy to get into from the first page
- Plenty of illustrations
- Emotionally light
- A good pick for reluctant readers
Great for kids who like
- Realistic Fiction (School & Friendships)
- School life
- Friendship
Reading mood
- Thoughtful
Good to talk about
- Friendship
- Family
Books like The Boy at the Back of the Class
Similar stories for the same ages, none more intense than this one should be for its youngest readers.
Ages 9–11
The Hundred Dresses
by Eleanor Estes
Wanda Petronski is a quiet Polish girl who wears the same faded blue dress to school every day, yet insists she has one hundred beautiful dresses lined up in her closet. Invites older readers to reflect on compassion, courage, and resilience.
Ages 9–14
Restart
by Gordon Korman
Chase falls off his roof and wakes up with total amnesia. When he returns to middle school, he discovers he was once the school's most notorious bully, feared and hated by many of his peers. Invites older readers to reflect on compassion, courage, and resilience.
Ages 6–11
Each Kindness
by Jacqueline Woodson
Chloe and her friends repeatedly shut out Maya, a new girl at school whose clothes are worn and who plays alone. Each time Maya tries to join in, she is met with cold stares and laughter. Offers space for thoughtful conversations about empathy and difficult choices.
Ages 9–11
Diary of an 8-Bit Warrior
by Cube Kid
Meet Runt, a twelve-year-old Minecraft villager who dreams of becoming a mighty warrior rather than a boring farmer. When the village school announces that the top students will be trained to fight hostile mobs, Runt seizes his chance. A relatable read that encourages conversations about school and growing up.
Ages 9–11
The Terrible Two
by Mac Barnett & Jory John
When master prankster Miles Murphy moves to sleepy Yawnee Valley, he expects to quickly claim his title as the school's top trickster. To his surprise, the town already has an undercover prank genius of its own. Encourages young readers to reflect on belonging and being a good friend.
Ages 9–11
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
by Jeff Kinney
Greg Heffley is starting middle school, where undersized weaklings like him share the hallways with kids who are taller, meaner, and already shaving. To survive, he records his daily misadventures, family annoyances, and flawed plans for popularity in an illustrated journal. Offers space for thoughtful conversations about empathy and difficult choices.
A good book is the start. A mentor makes it stick.
In a free 1:1 session, a trained Bookstaken mentor reads with your child, asks what they think and helps the reading habit last.