Description

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A young refugee embarks on a dangerous journey in this timeless and award-winning novel of survival.
 
Shif spends his days acing tests in school and playing games with his best friend and next-door neighbor, Bini. Even as the horrors of his country’s regime creep closer, Shif feels happy, safe, and loved in the only home he’s ever known.
 
But then soldiers arrive in the dead of night, breaking down doors and tearing Shif and Bini away from their families. Punished for imagined crimes, the boys vow to escape. Facing both unthinkable cruelty and boundless kindness, Shif has no choice but to press on toward a future he can barely imagine.
 
Based on real experiences and written in spare, powerful prose, this gripping tale illustrates the realities faced by countless young refugees across the world today. Refugee 87 is a story of friendship, kindness, hardship and—above all—hope.

About the Author

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Ele Fountain worked for many years as a children's book editor before turning to writing. She lives outside London with her family, and is the author of Wild, Fake, and Melt. She invites you to visit her online at https://elefountainpen.com/. 

Praise For…

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Praise for Refugee 87:
* "A gripping novel that leaves you on the edge of your seat rooting for Shif's survival."—School Library Connection (starred review)

"A suspenseful debut novel about the forces of greed and love that shape a refugee's fate."—Kirkus Reviews

"Shif's blunt and sympathetic voice turns today's headlines into one compassionate and resilient boy's experience."—Publishers Weekly

"Exceptional...vivid, convincing and empathetic...a tale of our time, imparting understanding and sympathy...powerfully told, without sentimentality."—Sunday Times (UK)

"Full of tension, fear, heartbreak and hope, it conveys both the bitterness of having family, home and identity stolen away piecemeal, and a courageous determination to survive."—The Guardian (UK)

"A remarkable debut novel...While being an incredibly timely read, above all, [Refugee 87] is about friendship and hope."—iNews (UK)