Alexa thinks about all of the different types of days she’s had. Some days are happy, some are sad, and others are both. On Friday, she has “a Roller Coaster Day” (232). First, Mrs. Sanders calls an assembly and tells the school not to talk to the reporters. Afterwards, Brendan the Bully calls Ahmet mean names. He and his friends sing a mean song about Ahmet, too. Mr. Irons stands by and does nothing.

Furious, Alexa lunges at Brendan. Tom, Josie, Michael, and Ahmet jump onto him as well. Finally, Mrs. Sanders, Mrs. Khan, and Ms. Hemsi appear and break up the fight. That night, Alexa sees reports about a teacher watching a student bully a refugee child and doing nothing to stop it. In the days following, Brendan stops bullying Ahmet, and Mr. Irons leaves the school for good.

Eight days later, Alexa still hasn’t heard from the Queen. Ahmet asks Alexa about the plan every day at school, but she doesn’t have any answers for him.

One day, Alexa returns home to find Mum back from work early. Mum explains that there have been some changes in the news about Alexa and Ahmet’s story. Mr. Fry, a member of Parliament, has cast Alexa and Tom as terrorists, and Mum wants Alexa and her friends to give an interview to challenge Mr. Fry’s story. Alexa agrees.

Alexa, Tom, Josie, Michael, and Ahmet give their interview. They tell the reporter about their plan and answer her questions. The interviewer especially wants to know why they care about Ahmet so much. Alexa and her friends each share their thoughts. Finally, the interviewer asks what they’d like the Queen and anyone else listening to know. Alexa tells the interviewer that everyone should be kind to refugees because what’s happening to them isn’t their fault. She also talks about Grandma Jo’s work helping refugees during World War II. The interviewer also asks Ahmet some questions; he closes by saying he has the best friends.

The next day, Alexa and Mum read the interview in the newspaper. Alexa’s favorite parts are where Ahmet tells his story. She doesn’t know if everyone will like the interview, but she’s glad that some people will now change their minds about refugees.

Six days later, Alexa and her friends get worried when they don’t see Ahmet at school. Mrs. Khan calls Alexa, Tom, Josie, and Michael to Mrs. Sanders’s office. Inside, they find Ahmet waiting for them.

Then the guards from Buckingham Palace join them. They gave the Queen their letter and have brought them the Queen’s reply. In her note, the Queen commends the children’s attempts to help their friend. She assures them that she will do her best to help Ahmet’s family and invites them to tea when she comes back from her trip. Alexa and her friends are so excited that they can’t speak.

Things start to change over the next two weeks. Alexa is learning Kurdish from Ahmet. Mum is spending more time with Mr. and Mrs. Rashid. Christina acts kinder to Alexa.

Soon, it is Alexa’s 10th birthday. She wakes up to find the last birthday card her dad wrote her on the counter. Mum leaves it out for her every year on her birthday. Mum already left for work, so Alexa puts on one of her dad’s records, reads the card, and cries.

At school, Alexa doesn’t remind anyone it’s her birthday. However, Mrs. Khan and Mum surprise her by bringing a cake into the classroom. Mrs. Khan then announces that she has another surprise. A woman named Mrs. Duncan from the Home Office enters the classroom and explains that she’s been working on Ahmet’s case. She then gives Ahmet a piece of paperwork, but he asks Alexa to read it first. Mum explains it to her, announcing that Ahmet’s parents are safe and are coming to the UK. Everyone cheers. Alexa is thrilled, too: Ahmet will get to see his parents, and she’s made a lasting friend.