Beginner’s pluck: Ramzee's book shows the challenges of being an outsider

'The Cheat Book' is based, partly the author's own life; he wanted a refugee character who is a scamp — and is just like everyone else

Ramzee: 'There wasn’t any stigma about being a refugee in the late '80s.'

Arriving in the UK from the civil war in Somalia, Ramzee lived in temporary housing — moving around a lot.

“There wasn’t any stigma about being a refugee in the late '80s,” he says. “But constantly moving schools meant I relied on my book friends. They were my constant.

“I was obsessed with  Tintin comics, and at seven, I started to make my own; drawing, then writing my own adventures.

“And at 12 or 13, when a theatre troupe came to my school, I started making plays.”

After college, Ramsey worked a night shift at QVC, but he quit and moved to retail which gave him more time to write.

I worked in Gap in the King’s Road for seven years and met a real mix of people.

He sent short plays to the Royal Court, got on their writing programme, then worked in post-production as an editing assistant for commercials.

“In 2015 I self-published my first two comics and was nominated for the Brit Comic’s Award.

“Then I won second prize in a Faber Children’s FAB competition, and agents became interested.

“By 2020 I was able to produce comics full-time. I was doing stuff for Marvel — a childhood dream.

“Then I got the idea for The Cheat Book.”

Who is Ramzee (Ramsey Hassan)?

Date/ place of birth: 1979/ Abu Dhabi.

Education: Six schools in north, south, and east London. Ravensbourne College of Art and Design, Media Studies.

Home: London.

Family: Mother, three brothers, and a sister.

The day job: Full-time writer.

In another life: “I wish I was a film director.”

Favourite writers: Diana Wynne-Jones; Hergé; Susan Cooper; Ursula le Guin; Babette Cole; Roald Dahl.

Second book: “It’s written. I’m drawing it now.”

Top tip: “Go on walks to think about stuff. Leave your phone at home.”

Website: www.ramseyhassan.com

Instagram: @Ramzeerawkz

The debut

The Cheat Book

Hachette Children’s, €9.43/ Kindle, €5.03

After puking at school assembly, Kamal feels a loser. Then he finds a book with simple rules that will make him popular, and he sees the chance to turn things around.

“It’s based, partly on my own life. I wanted a refugee character who is a scamp — and is just like everyone else.”

The verdict: Superb. Fun and funny, yet shows the challenges of being an outsider.