The Lion Above the Door

‘Ever since I can remember, people have stared at me and my family.

Dad tells me it’s because we’re ‘special’.

But if we’re so special, how come nobody ever looks like us in the books at school? Not even the books about world wars …’

As the only Singaporean boy not just in his school, but in the tiny English he calls home too, Leo witnesses – and feels – the impacts of racism every day. But on a class trip to a nearby cathedral, Leo’s attention is drawn to a marble slab high above the doors of the hall. Right there, bang in the middle of a list of WWII war heroes, Leo finds himself staring at something incredible: his own name.

Desperate to know who this other Leo was, and with Sangeeta asking why women are missing from the history books too, the two friends embark on an epic search.

One that will help uncover missing s/heroes from the past, who each deserve to take their rightful place in the pages of history.

Touching on themes of historical racisms and eradications, The Lion Above the Door shines a light on the millions of s/heroes still missing from our history books, and the power that lies in all of us to rectify past wrongs.

The first edition of this book also contains a special collection of historical photos and stories of real life forgotten heroes from World War Two.

Author Biography

Winner of the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize in 2019, the Blue Peter Book Prize 2019, and other international accolades since, Onjali Q Rauf’s first book The Boy at the Back of the Class was inspired by a baby met in the refugee camps of Calais, France, whilst on an aid convoy for her organisation, O’s Refugee Aid Team. Telling the story of a group of friends befriending a refugee boy at school with depth and humour, it continues to be a must-read for children and adults around the world.

Rauf’s second release went on to win the Diversity Book Award for Children’s Fiction (UK) 2020. The Star Outside My Window drew on her experiences as founder and CEO of Making Herstory – an organisation working to help women and children flee the impacts of male-led domestic violence. Her ongoing works with homeless communities, food banks, homeless shelters, as well as her personal experiences of racism, sexism and bullying, led to the releases of The Night Bus Hero, The Great Food Bank Heist and ultimately, The Lion Above the Door.

Following an influx of enquiries from children about how to aid refugees and the homeless, or fight for the environment and the rights of women and girls, Rauf wrote her first non-fiction title Hope on the Horizon, as a personal guide to budding young activists everywhere.

In 2023, a deep love for funny sayings coupled with that of travelling, led to the release Where Magic Grows: a collection of of seven original fairy tales in which Rauf celebrates the peoples and cultures of such lands as Syria, Egypt, Japan and India.

Rauf was recognised for her services to literature and women’s rights in the 2022 New Year Honours.

Twitter: OnjaliRauf / MakeHerstory1 / @O_Refugee

Website: www.onjaliqrauf.org