Alexa can’t stop looking at Ahmet. He keeps his head down, but she soon catches a glimpse of his colorful eyes. However, Alexa can’t find Ahmet in gym class or at recess. During lunch, Alexa, Tom, Josie, and Michael make guesses about where Ahmet could be. At the end of the day, they overhear a classmate named Jennie saying that the teachers are keeping Ahmet away from the other students because he’s dangerous. Alexa doesn’t think Jennie’s story sounds right.

Alexa and her friends see a woman in a scarf picking up Ahmet. Alexa races over to him and gives him a candy. Instead of smiling, Ahmet ducks behind the woman’s leg. The woman and Mrs. Khan thank Alexa for being kind, but Ahmet still doesn’t say anything. For the entire bus ride home, Alexa wonders how she can befriend Ahmet.

For the next few days, Alexa winks at Ahmet whenever she catches his eye. Ahmet doesn’t smile back. Meanwhile, Alexa and her classmates learn about photosynthesis and start growing plants. Alexa hopes hers grows the tallest, but worries that Brendan the Bully will do something to ruin her chances. He and his friends, Liam and Chris, are the meanest boys in Alexa’s grade. Alexa hopes they don’t bully Ahmet, but soon enough, they start spreading rumors about him.

Worried about Ahmet, Alexa gives him a paper airplane note in class. Mrs. Khan scolds her for not paying attention. Later on, Mrs. Khan tells Alexa and her friends to give Ahmet his space because he needs to spend time in seclusion until he feels safe. Alexa doesn’t know what that means but plans to find out.

Alexa remembers her father always saying that if you want something, you have to try hard to get it. Alexa wants to be friends with Ahmet, and believes that if she keeps trying, she and Ahmet will soon get along. Every day, she and her friends give Ahmet candy, but he never smiles at them. Worried Ahmet “doesn’t like candy” (27), Alexa gives him an orange with a smiley face drawn on it. This makes Ahmet happy.

After school that day, Alexa overhears two of her classmates’ parents talking about Ahmet. They call him a refugee kid, which Alexa doesn’t understand. One of the parents says that she doesn’t like refugees coming into the UK, but the other parent argues that refugees are running away from wars and need help. Alexa doesn’t know what they mean, but she smiles at Ahmet anyway. She hopes he knows that she still wants to be his friend, no matter what other people say about him.

Alexa stays up late that night, waiting for her mom to get home from work. Ever since Alexa’s dad “died in a car crash” (33), Mum has had to work two jobs—part-time as a nurse and full-time as a librarian. Alexa misses her dad all the time and likes to listen to his old records on his record player whenever she feels sad. Mum wanted to get rid of the player, but Alexa’s uncle Lenny convinced Mum to give it to Alexa.

When Mum gets home, Alexa asks her about refugees and tells her about Ahmet. Mum explains that refugees are people who have to find new homes because they’re being treated poorly in their own homes. She reminds Alexa of the news stories they watched about people running away in boats. Alexa guesses that Ahmet must have been running away from big bullies in his home country. She’s thankful that Mum is helping her understand Ahmet. Back in her room, Alexa writes a list of questions she wants to ask Ahmet about himself.

On the bus the next morning, Alexa tells her friends what she learned about refugees from Mum. Michael’s and Tom’s parents told them similar things. Josie’s parents told her to stay away from Ahmet, but she realizes they might be wrong after hearing Alexa’s, Michael’s, and Tom’s explanations about being a refugee. They remember what they learned about war in Mr. Thompson’s class last year, too.

In class, Mrs. Khan introduces Ahmet’s new assistant, Ms. Hemsi. Alexa is glad that Ahmet will have help and company; Ms. Hemsi is translating for Ahmet, too. At the end of the day, Alexa, Tom, Josie, and Michael give Ahmet more fruit and candy. Ms. Hemsi thanks them, explaining that Ahmet is from Syria and speaks Kurdish, just like her. She also suggests that they give Ahmet one gift per day to avoid overwhelming him. Alexa is thrilled that Ms. Hemsi is helping them understand Ahmet. However, the good feeling goes away when she catches Brendan the Bully glaring at her, her friends, and Ahmet. She hopes he won’t do anything mean.