Game I Will Never Forget by Onjali Q. Rauf

Just after his tenth birthday, the last thing Zak expects to hear is that his mum is having a baby and he has to give up his room for an ageing old grandmother who is coming to live with them!

With the help of his friends and a series of cheeky pranks, Zak is convinced it’ll be no time before he can reclaim his rightful territory!

But Zak soon discovers that his nani is no ordinary old grandma but a former chess prodigy, able to outwit and outdo him – and his friends – at every turn.

Just as both players begin to forge a mutual respect and a friendship that might finally overcome all obstacles, Zak begins to notice things. Like how Nani sometimes forgets where she is… Or who Zak is…

In a desperate bid to ensure his nani never forgets again, Zak enters her into the chess competition of a lifetime.

But will Zak’s nani remember long enough to play?

From Onjali Q. Rauf, author of The Boy at the Back of the Class, comes another incredible story, told with humour and heart. This story highlights the challenges of living with a relative experiencing Dementia, alongside the unbreakable bond between a child and a grandparent.

About the Author: Onjali Q Rauf’s first book, The Boy at the Back of the Class, was Winner of the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize in 2019, the Blue Peter Book Prize 2019 and other accolades.

Rauf’s second book, The Star Outside My Window, went on to win the Diversity Book Award for Children’s Fiction (UK) 2020.

Further titles include The Night Bus Hero, The Great Food Bank Heist, The Lion Above the Door, Where Magic Grows and Hope on the Horizon.

In 2022, Rauf was recognised for her services to Literature and Women’s Rights in the New Year Honours.

28 Aug 2025
 

The Game I Will Never Forget by Onjali Q. Rauf ISBN 9781510108967