Boy Overboard

Boy Overboard by Morris Gleitzman is an adventure for 9 year olds about football-loving siblings trying to reach safety in Australia.

What happens

Jamal wants to be a football star. His sister Bibi wants a chance to play too, which sounds like a fairly small thing to ask. In the Afghanistan they live in, girls aren't allowed to join in.

That doesn't stop Bibi coming out to tackle the boys. She's very good at it. Jamal finds himself cheering her on even while he's worrying about the trouble they could all be in.

Their dream is to play for Australia. Getting there means a dangerous journey for the family, with threats on land and at sea. The football they love gives them something to keep hoping for.

Jamal tells you the story himself. In the opening match he's busy showing off his footwork and hoping this will finally be the shot that goes in. If your reader has ever ignored a teammate calling for the ball, they'll probably recognise what happens next!

You hear his worries in the same very chatty voice. He wants to be a stern older brother, but he's also impressed by Bibi. It's hard to tell someone off when they've just scored a goal you couldn't manage yourself.

Bibi has plenty to say too. She doesn't see why she should spend her days indoors while everyone else gets to have fun. Their arguments feel like siblings arguing, even though the rules around them make the consequences much more serious.

That danger is worth knowing about before choosing this. Landmines are a threat right from the early chapters. The wider journey also involves storms and people who mean the family harm.

If your child wants a light football story, those parts could be upsetting. For a reader ready for an adventure about a family escaping danger, Jamal's jokes and hopes give them a child to care about as they go.

What to read next

For another story about a child living through war, there's When the Sky Falls in the library. Joseph's friendship with a gorilla brings a different kind of danger, including the possibility that the animal could be killed. It's a more sombre next choice.