The Lost Year by Katherine Marsh is a story about a 12-year-old boy named Max, who moves to Belgium with his family after their lives change in a tough way. Max feels alone and out of place in a new country, especially after something bad happens to his family. But his life starts to change when he meets Ahmed, a refugee from Syria who’s escaping the war. The two boys become friends and help each other through their struggles. As they learn about each other's worlds, they grow stronger together. The book explores friendship, dealing with loss, and how kindness can make a big difference, even in hard times.