Kicked Out by A.M. Dassu

Kicked Out is the completely engaging sequel to Boy, Everywhere by A.M. Dassu. We rejoin Sami and his friend Ali as they try to live their best life in Year 8. Sami is finally starting to feel more at home in the UK after fleeing from war in Syria earlier in the year. Their best friend, Mark, has an amazing house with a pool (his mum recently won the lottery) and they all love playing football together.

Everything is going great until there is a huge misunderstanding at Mark’s house. Their older friend Aadam, who works there as a gardner, is accused of stealing money from Mark’s family and Callum (Mark’s mum’s racist boyfriend) tells Ali and Sami they can’t hang out there anymore. He says “They’re all the same” and the boys must have had something to do with Aadam’s crime. Mark is heartbroken and does all he can to spend time with his friends but his mum is being influenced by Callum and can’t see the truth.

Aadam (who arrived in the UK as an unaccompanied minor) really needed that job – his application for asylum has been denied and he needs money for a lawyer so he can appeal. If he doesn’t find the money fast, he’s going to be deported. Ali and Sami understand there is no way Aadam can go back to his old life where he was exploited and abused. They have to find a way to help him!

The boys come up with a brilliant plan for a fundraiser – a celebrity penalty shoot-out. As they get to work planning and sorting out all the details, they run into one challenge after another. They find some people are racist, some people don’t trust them, and others are just plain mean. Add to that Ali’s absent father showing up out of the blue with a half-brother Ali doesn’t know and life goes from super fun to super confusing.

Kicked Out is a story of true friendship and being there for each other even when life is hard. Children who have escaped war have already been through so much but the challenges are far from over when they set foot on British soil. A.M. Dassu shows readers the reality of this life and how acceptance, kindness and support means so much. Ali is a wonderful role model of perseverence and loyalty. He is determined to help Aadam no matter what and takes him in as a member of his own family when Aadam has no one.

Like Boy, Everywhere, Kicked Out provides readers with insight into lives they may not otherwise encounter. With refugee boats, hotels for asylum seekers and war-torn countries filling our daily news, these stories help children understand the people behind the desparation and tragedy. They are real people, just like them, in need of safety, a home and friendship.

As serious as this topic is, Kicked Out is also a lovely story of three 13-year-old boys who want to have fun together. They joke, laugh and get so excited about the chance to meet a professional footballer. Readers of a similar age will really relate to them and love their light-hearted banter. The football angle will appeal to fans of the game making this a great choice for so many readers from about Year 5 onwards.

Thank you to Old Barn Books, Liz Scott & A.M. Dassu for an early copy of this fantastic book. It publishes on 19th October 2023.

Follow these links to find out more or purchase on-line:

Amazon: