A culturally rooted historical story about a boy finding confidence through football while negotiating family expectations and hostility at school. It offers a child’s perspective on belonging, tradition and personal freedom.
Romani communitytraditionbelongingfootballpersonal freedomfamily loyaltyschoolinsultssocial inclusion
FictionNovel
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Themes in Context
Belonging and Romani identity
Lijah’s family life, work, language and customs are presented alongside his movement into school and wider social spaces.Exploratory / explanatoryExploratory / explanatory: the book explains or explores the subject without an established evaluative position.Exploratory / explanatory: the book explains or explores the subject without an established evaluative position.
How the book presents it: The story appears to give Romani community life substantial narrative attention, while showing the pressure of entering an unfamiliar institution.
Talk about: How does the story balance Lijah’s family’s way of life with the expectations he meets at school?
Passion and family expectations
Lijah develops a strong interest in football despite his father’s view that it is not a game for Romani people.AmbiguousAmbiguous: the book leaves its position open to more than one reasonable reading.Ambiguous: the book leaves its position open to more than one reasonable reading.
How the book presents it: The conflict is presented as a genuine tension between Lijah’s enthusiasm and his love for family traditions, rather than as a simple rejection of either.
Talk about: If Lijah continues pursuing football, does he find a way to remain connected to his family?
Prejudice and school belonging
After starting school, Lijah is behind in reading and writing and hears insults from other children about being Romani.AmbiguousAmbiguous: the book leaves its position open to more than one reasonable reading.Ambiguous: the book leaves its position open to more than one reasonable reading.
How the book presents it: The hostile treatment is presented as an obstacle Lijah faces, while football becomes one route through which he may connect with others.
Talk about: Whether football changes Lijah’s wider experience at school, and how other children respond, remains worth exploring while reading.
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Why It May Be Worth Reading
This may open meaningful discussion about how a community is represented, how prejudice affects belonging, and whether following an interest can coexist with respect for family customs.
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What Deserves Attention
Some children insult Lijah using an anti-Romani slur, and he is behind in reading and writing when he starts school. His father opposes football, creating sustained family disagreement around identity and choice.
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A Conversation Worth Having
How does Lijah respond when school feels difficult or hostile? If his football ambitions and family loyalties pull in different directions, what choices does he make, and how are they viewed?
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Reading Approach
Read alongside the child if the slur or school hostility may need support. Pause to explain unfamiliar Romani words respectfully, then discuss whose viewpoint is centred and how family disagreement develops.
Confidence & Basis
Theme indicators describe how the book presents a topic; they are not a verdict on the whole book or your family's values. Confidence reflects how much book-specific material was checked. Only part of the book information was available, so some details remain unconfirmed.
What remains unconfirmed
Belonging and Romani identity: The full range of Romani experiences and the ending’s treatment of community identity are not established.
Passion and family expectations: Some details of this treatment remain unclear.
Prejudice and school belonging: Some details of this treatment remain unclear.
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