The abrupt change in lifestyle
When Sami sends his mother and little sister to the mall to buy him soccer shoes, he expects to wear them and participate in the upcoming kid's football event. The mall is bombed, but fortunately, his mother and sister survive. Ironically, Sami never wears the new shoes for any football event. The shoes that were meant to bring Sami joy end up becoming his symbol of trauma and regret. The family flees Damascus, and life for Sami worsens for the rest of his life.
Sami's act of stealing his father's phone
While in the boat across the Mediterranean Sea, Sami notices that a young boy called Aadam has no seat. Instead of Sami asking help from his parents to pay for the boy, he steals his father's phone to sell it so that he can help Aadam. Readers do not expect Sami to steal to help others because that is equally a crime.
The irony of Sami’s uncle in England
Sami's family is optimistic that the uncle will welcome them warmly when they arrive in England. Ironically, Sami's uncle receives them unwillingly. Sami notices that his family is not welcome at his uncle's home, but he cannot change the situation. Readers expect Sami's uncle to receive the family warmly after going through dangerous escape routes, but that is not the case.
