On the Monday after fall break, everyone pesters Ahmet with questions about his story. Ahmet doesn’t answer most people’s questions but doesn’t seem to mind Alexa and her friends asking him things. The only person who doesn’t show interest in Ahmet’s story is Brendan the Bully. Instead, Brendan is even meaner to Ahmet. Alexa is worried about him, but Ahmet tells her that he and his dad had to fight off worse people at the refugee camp.

Alexa shows Ahmet her Tintin book, exclaiming that he’s as brave as Tintin. Ahmet loves the book, and Alexa lets him keep it. Then Ahmet tells Alexa that his sister died on the boat trip from Greece, and that he got separated from his parents. He still doesn’t know where they are. Alexa tells Ahmet her dad died, and they wonder together if Ahmet’s parents are alive. Alexa wants to cry for Ahmet but doesn’t. Instead, she promises him not to tell anyone his story.

That night, Alexa can’t sleep. She keeps thinking about Ahmet and feeling sad for him. She wakes up late the next morning and misses her usual bus. On the next bus, she overhears a man and a woman talking about the refugee crisis. They say that the UK is closing its borders to Syrian refugees on Friday.

Scared and upset, Alexa calls a secret meeting with her friends on the playground. She tells them what she overheard on the bus and what Ahmet told her about his family. She feels bad for breaking her promise to Ahmet, but is afraid that if she and her friends don’t help, Ahmet’s parents will be closed out of the country and never see Ahmet again. The four friends agree that they have to do something.

They race to the teachers’ lounge and find Mrs. Khan and Ms. Hemsi. They tell them what they’ve heard and why they’re upset. The teachers assure the children that they shouldn’t worry because “smart people from the government” (139) are working on Ahmet’s case. Afterwards, Alexa and her friends agree that they still have to do something for Ahmet. They start planning a secret mission.

Alexa and her friends make plans to help Ahmet. At Tom’s suggestion, they write a letter to the prime minister. At Josie’s suggestion, they write a Special Appeal letter to send to the newspaper. Then, Michael gets the idea to write to the High Court. They ask the librarian, Mrs. Finnicky, for help finding the most powerful judge in the UK; they soon discover the judge’s name and contact information. That afternoon, Alexa feels defeated. She’s the only one who hasn’t come up with an idea to help Ahmet.

Alexa ignores her homework and tries coming up with a plan to help Ahmet instead. However, she can’t think of anything. That night, she has a nightmare and wakes up “feeling hot and damp” (151). Shaken, she gets up and reads Tintin. The book gives her the best idea she’s had yet: To write a letter to the Queen about keeping the borders open so Ahmet’s family can get to safety. She writes the plan in her notebook to show her friends the next day.

At school, Alexa’s friends are thrilled when she tells them her plan. They agree that sending their letter via Royal Mail is the best way to contact the Queen. Then they start imagining how everyone will respond if they convince her to keep the borders open. Alexa is so excited that her head starts hurting. For the rest of the day, she and her friends continue to talk about their plan.

After school, they meet outside and write their letter. Alexa promises to mail it because she has stamps at home and a postbox outside her apartment. Before putting it in the mail later, Alexa adds a postscript about Ahmet’s sister. She feels bad about spreading Ahmet’s secret but knows the Queen won’t tell anyone.