“A lovely, warm-hearted first novel, a celebration of courage and friendship leavened with mischief.” The Guardian on The Boy at the Back of the Class

Onjali’s first book The Boy at the Back of the Class - illustrated by Pippa Curnick – was an immediate favourite with Irish readers when it appeared on our shelves in 2018. Making her ILFDublin debut, she will be talking about her new novel, The Night Bus Hero. Onjali is the founder of both O's Refugee Aid Team, which works to deliver emergency aid to refugees in northern France and other parts of Europe, and Making Herstory, which mobilises men, women and children from all walks of life to tackle the abuse and trafficking of women and girls in the UK and beyond. The Boy at the Back of the Class, the story of a Syrian refugee trying to adapt to a new life in London, won both the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize and the Blue Peter Book Award. In conversation with Sarah Webb, Children’s Events Programmer.

Age 9+

The Gutter Bookshop is sad they can’t be at the festival in person this year but you can browse (and purchase!) books by the featured authors at the special ILFDublin festival shop - CLICK HERE. And remember that there’s no postage to pay in Ireland if you spend over €30 or if you choose to collect your books from either of our bookshops. Just choose the ‘Free Shipping’ or ‘Click & Collect’ options at checkout!