Book of the month: April 2022

I read loads of brilliant books in April, which made it difficult to choose a book of the month. This one came out on top…

The Lion Above the Door
Written by Onjali Q. Raúf and illustrated by Pippa Curnick

Ever since I can remember, people have always stared at me and my family. Dad tells me it’s because we’re ‘special’. But there’s never anyone who looks like us, or my best friend Sangeeta, in my school history books.

But this year is different. Because on our school trip to learn about the Second World War, I saw my name – my exact name – carved high above a church door, lying beneath a golden lion.

I don’t know who this other person with my name is yet, but I do know that he was a hero.

And that changes everything.

In fact, with my help, I think it might even change history itself.

Leo and his best friend, Sangeeta, are different from the other children in their school. Leo’s family is from Singapore and Sangeeta has Indian heritage. Whilst learning about World War II, neither sees people like them in the pages of the history books they are reading. But when the children go on a class trip to Rochester Cathedral, Leo sees his name etched in stone above a doorway. This sets him and Sangeeta on a search to find out more about this unknown hero and other soldiers who have been left out of the history books.

Exploring the issue of historical racism, The Lion Above the Door brings to light the truth about those who fought in the Second World War. For many, the conflict was and is seen as a white European war. In fact, soldiers from all corners of the globe, of different nationalities, races and religions, served and died alongside one another. In the book, Leo learns about the other Leo’s RAF service and the Battle of Singapore, whilst Sangeeta uncovers the Indian soldiers who fought in Europe and Noor Inayat Khan, a British spy who was awarded the George Cross posthumously. The back of the book contains photos and information about the forgotten heroes, as well as the racism they suffered. This issue is also explored in Alfred’s War, which I included in my list of picture books by First Nations authors. Injustices experienced by soldiers of colour included differences in pay, not receiving support and pensions when they returned home, not being honoured with gravestones or during commemorations, and disappearing from the pages of history. Hopefully The Lion Above the Door will make children (and adults) aware of this and help to publicise the stories of the forgotten soldiers. As Onjali Q. Raúf writes in her Author’s Note, “only when those truths are confronted (no matter how painful), accepted, taught and honoured by everyone, will racism in all its forms finally be rooted out”. And this book is a step along that path.

Onjali Q. Raúf has tackled difficult topics in her books, including the plight of refugees (The Boy at the Back of the Class), the impact of domestic violence (The Star Outside My Window), bullying and homelessness (The Night Bus Hero) and the reality of food poverty (The Great Food Bank Heist). She does so with humour and compassion, enabling those experiencing these challenges to see themselves and their lives in the stories. This also enables other children to develop empathy and understanding for those whose lives are different to their own. Thought-provoking and confronting, these books offer opportunities to discuss important issues experienced by many in today’s society.

Click on the book cover image to link to the source. Quotes taken from the blurb and content of the book.