49 pages • 1 hour read
The Boy at the Back of the Class
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Chapters 11-16Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of war, graphic violence, death, and loss. In particular, the section makes references to the Syrian Civil War and to Nazi Germany during World War II.
Chapter 11 Summary: “The Game of Scrabble”
After Ahmet’s presentation, Alexa, Tom, Josie, and Michael decide to record all of the questions they have for Ahmet. Back at home, Alexa updates the original list of questions she wrote. She tucks it away until after the school’s fall break. Alexa dreads the time off. She has to spend more time alone or with the neighbor, because Mum still has to work.
On Sunday, Uncle Lenny is coming over. Alexa is excited until Mum says his wife, Christina, and baby, Jacob, are coming, too. Uncle Lenny is Mum’s brother. He’s the only one who has been there for Alexa and Mum since her dad died. He works as a taxi driver and always tells Alexa funny stories. Alexa loves it when he visits but doesn’t think Christina likes her and Mum. Jacob is also a fussy baby.
When Uncle Lenny and his family arrive, he asks Alexa about Ahmet and the pomegranates. Christina interrupts, insisting that Alexa must like Ahmet because her grandmother was a refugee and helped other refugees, too. Mum and Uncle Lenny look upset. Finally, Mum explains that Grandma Jo—her dad’s mom—escaped Austria during World War II.
