Author of 'Boy Everywhere', A.M.Dassu set out to challenge stereotypes with her novel about a Syrian family fleeing war in Damascus to come to Manchester. With teenage characters that any school children will relate to, the novel offers a unique opportunity to explore the issues that families like this face and, more importantly, to shine a light on the lives they leave behind.

A teaching resource that will support discussion and responses in classrooms and homes will be shared with all attendees.

All attendees will also be offered the opportunity to apply for class sets of the books for use in their schools.

A.M.Dassu will be interviewed about her novel by Chloe Germaine Buckley, from the Manchester Centre for Youth Studies. Az will also discuss how she hopes that her book and ideas in the resource will support young readers in becoming more empathetic towards the plight of their fellow teens, who are, perhaps, more like them than they realise.

This event has been organised by the Manchester Children's Book Festival and Read Manchester. We have been supported by Old Barn Books and the Manchester Centre for Youth Studies. The resource is being created in collaboration with Sajeda Amir from Levenshulme High School.