The Great (Food) Bank Heist

Product Information

It tells the story of a single parent who works as much as she can, who loves her children and who will go hungry to ensure they are fed.

The Great (Food) Bank Heist by Onjali Q. Rauf | WHSmith The Great (Food) Bank Heist by Onjali Q. Rauf | WHSmith

Now the UK being a developed country, it hardly seems possible that there would be people struggling to get a decent meal three times a day, but apparently it is a reality that many prefer to ignore. At the food bank, Nelson’s family usually get four and five bags of food but this time, they only give him two.Until the bags got less and less and he knew that they would probably be starving by the end of this month. At the back of the book Raúf explains that Marcus Rashford was her inspiration, and praises other adults who promote the cause along with the “hidden army of amazing hearts working in food banks and breakfast clubs every single day to help keep our little ones going.

The Great (Food) Bank Heist (Paperback) - Waterstones The Great (Food) Bank Heist (Paperback) - Waterstones

As the story progresses we find out more about Nelson’s family and their money problems and why his mum has to resort to a food bank to keep the family fed. They love going into the bank, seeing the kind people who work there, and coming away with bags of food and supplies that will help to get them through the month; that will stop their stomachs from aching for a little while.Written with great empathy and Rauf's trademark humour, The Great (Food) Bank Heist is a moving story that gives a child's-eye view of the increasing problem of food poverty. It's awful to think how many children go to school hungry and how many families that depend on food banks. Many children today face food poverty and food banks and breakfast clubs really help those in need to have a good meal and I like how this story highlights this issue but doesn’t focus too much on the negative thoughts around it, instead focusing on the characters and them attempting to discover the mystery and save the food bank. The great illustrations throughout make the book more accessible and give the text added life, published by Barrington Stoke this is a brilliantly accessible story not only for dyslexics, reluctant readers but for everyone.

The Great Food Bank Heist by Onjali Q. Raúf The Great Food Bank Heist by Onjali Q. Raúf

They are creative with their meals, they go to breakfast club, and they use their vouchers on Thursdays at the food bank. Rauf, however, is that even with such a clear intent, the storytelling, character building, and enjoyment of the book makes you connect to the plot and issues and feel the message, not just be told it. With its shining tins and packets of food stacked from floor to ceiling, Nelson thinks it's the best kind of bank there is.

I feel the story has potential to be a longer novel, especially in relation to finding and catching the thieves. Her first novel, The Boy at the Back of the Class, has sold over 100,000 copies and won multiple awards. It is dyslexia-friendly, with a specially-designed typeface and clear layout on thick paper to avoid confusing the eye, while engaging black-and-white illustrations add detail to the story.

The Great (Food) Bank Heist by Onjali Q. Raúf | Goodreads The Great (Food) Bank Heist by Onjali Q. Raúf | Goodreads

But someone has been stealing the food meant for food banks and every month they are getting less and less to go by. I would read this book aloud in a classroom (2nd-5th), and if I get a chance to participate in Lunch Bunch (where a book is read to children while they eat their lunch) at our local Islamic School, I will start off with this book. Since their dad left them to be with another family Nelson and his little sister Ashley have come to look forward to voucher Thursdays when they visit the local food bank and swap their voucher for much needed food. He's hungry all the time, he's in pain, and he can hear his sister crying herself to sleep at night because she's so hungry.

The great food bank heist” highlights the the unheard plight of hungry families and the importance of food bank donations. Rauf is the founder of Making Herstory, an organisation mobilising men, women and children from all walks of life to tackle the abuse and trafficking of women and girls in the UK and beyond. The story is at times funny, which highlights the serious issue without making the reader feel completely negative, rather they may feel as I did, empowered and inspired to do do something. The main characters investigate when a series of thefts hit the local food banks - will they be able to solve the case and allow the food banks to go on supporting the local community? It is a book that should be shared widely, not only to educate others to the lifeline that is a food bank but to encourage others to help support those in their time of need.