Nowhere Boy

Ahmed, one of the protagonists of Nowhere Boy, is a dynamic and round character. Ahmed is a 14-year-old refugee from Syria who flees the country with his father due to the Syrian Civil War. Ahmed finds comfort in his Islamic faith, which reminds him of his father, especially in how his father taught him “the importance of charity, how it [is] one of the pillars of their religion” (95). Ahmed feels frustrated that the rest of the world views his religion as “some violent religion that [is] all about attacking non-Muslims” (95). Instead, Ahmed knows that his faith would encourage people to help refugees like him, rather than fear him. However, Ahmed must face the reality that many Europeans will see him as a threat, rather than as a scared young boy.

Ahmed’s main internal conflict comes from his grief over his family members’ deaths and the loss of his everyday life as a teenager. Although he does not confide in Max immediately, the trauma of telling Max about his family’s death causes them to bond over Ahmed’s vulnerability. Ahmed feels tormented by his family’s death. He tells Max, “My father said they feel no pain. But how could he know?” (138).