Title: Kicked Out
Author: A.M. Dassu
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by: Shakera
Genre: Multicultural, YA
Publisher: Tu Books
Date of Release: April 23, 2024
Pages: 225
Format: Paperback (Hear Our Voices)
Taking place in the UK, Ali, Sami, and Mark love to spend time together playing football (soccer) and swimming in Mark’s new swimming pool. Sami’s unofficial adopted brother, Aadam, is in trouble with Immigration and is in danger of being deported. His only crime is seeking asylum.
After money goes missing, Aadam is accused of stealing it as it’s known he needs funds to secure an immigration lawyer. Based on his mother’s orders, the boys are no longer allowed entry to Mark’s new home. As the reader, you know Aadam didn’t steal the money, which would make things too simple. This story shows racism and how it works in a different country. More importantly, you see it from the perspective of children. It’s important to read the author’s note at the end. This series/duology is a great way to start a conversation with children about racism and xenophobia.
While this isn’t listed as a series or a duology, readers will meet some of these characters in “Boy, Everywhere,” which follows Sami. The writing is engaging and easy to understand, plus it’s easy to connect to the main characters in such a way that you want to reach through the pages and help in any way you can. This story showed the importance of friends, family dynamics, and how you can achieve anything by working together.
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