The Boy at the Back of the Class

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of war, violence, death, and loss.

Analyze the positive effects of Alexa’s kindness on those around her. How does the novel contrast Alexa’s compassion with the more hostile or negative behavior of other characters? How does the text illustrate the importance of compassion?

Compare and contrast Alexa’s and Ahmet’s characters. How are they characterized? How are they different or similar to one another?

Alexa is a naturally curious person. Explore how Alexa’s curious mind functions as a narrative device. How does the novel use Alexa’s journey of discovery to teach the reader new information about global politics and/or the refugee experience?