You know what it is like to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Well that is exactly what happens to Khalid when he is mistaken for a terrorist and ends up in Guantanamo Bay prison at the age of 15. His family decides to go to Pakistan to visit relatives and while looking for his father, he comes upon an anti-American rally and one thing leads to another and his life is turned upside down. Originally from England, and being of the Muslim descent, Khalid is being targeted for wrongdoings against Americans and he is sent to prison even though he is so young. He tries to tell them his age but no one will listen and the brutality that he endures is relentless. What he does next, I was amazed and then I wondered if I myself might do the same thing under the same circumstances. I liked the way the author wrote about his thoughts and emotions, as they seemed typical of a teen in that circumstance. I know many people have read or heard about the situation at Guantanamo Bay and that was one of the reasons I picked up this book but also the plain orange cover was intriguing and the storyline caught my eye. Yes, the story was good and I enjoyed just about everything about the book. Whether I would want other young people to read the book, I guess it depends on the maturity of the reader and whether you have time to explain the actions of the people who caused those actions written about in the book. Although this book is fiction, questions are going to be asked on whether the book is actually true and someone will need to be able to explain it. The author did put a synopsis and some discussion questions in the back of the book. She also put a timeline and some websites for further information which would be a good resource.
