Skip to main content

Review: Kareem Between

By
 
Kareem Between
By Shifa Saltagi Safadi
New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2024. Fiction. 324 pages. 

Kareem loves football and as he gets ready to start seventh grade he dreams of someday becoming the first Syrian American NFL player. Seventh grade is not off to a great start for Kareem, after football tryouts don't go as he had planned, his best friend moves away, and his mom returns to Syria to help bring his sick grandfather to the US for treatment. So when Austin, the quarterback and coach's son, offers to talk to his dad and get Kareem on the football team in the spring, if he will cheat and do his homework for him, Kareem agrees. Kareem really wants to fit in at school and he is desperate to find a friend, but deep down he knows that doing Austin's homework isn't the right thing to do. And to make things harder, Kareem's mom asks him to be a friend to Fadi, a Syrian Christian refugee. He knows he should stand up for Fadi and help him adjust to the new school, but Kareem is to worried about what others will think of him. His integrity is really being tested and Kareem must find the courage to fight for what is right and what is truly important to him.  

This book does a great job at mashing together football, politics, middle school insecurities, and integrity in a way that is relatable for readers. This novel in verse is a compelling story that describes how hard it can be to understand the world around us and how important it is to stand up for what you believe in. 


Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

De la hora del cuento: La letra "H"

By
  Cuentos Cuando tu niñera es una bruja Escrito por Ana Siqueira Ilustrado por Irena Freitas New York : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2022. Libro ilustrado. "Si consigues una nueva niñera y ya casi es Halloween, ten cuidado ... ¡porque podría ser una bruja!" --Editor Cuentitos Mi ofrenda Por Mariana Galvez   Los Angeles, California: Little Libros, LLC, 2022. Pequeño libro ilustrado. "Finalmente ha llegado el momento y Amelia necesita tu ayuda para recoger art̕culos para la ofrenda de su familia. A través del uso de colores, este libro de buscar y encontrar les enseñará a sus pequeños el significado especial que tienen los artículos cotidianos durante el Día de Muertos." --Editor Otros libros sobre la letra "H" Hola. ¡Adiós! Hermana pegajosa Hansel y Gretel ¡Hola, Capitán! Nuestras Ancestras: Tejiendo Historias En Mi Huipil
Post a Comment
Read more

If You Like ... Super Silly Read Alouds

By Suzanne
If you like super silly read alouds, these playful picture books are for you! Young readers get to laugh, imagine, and become part of the storytelling fun! From upside-down adventures and magical spells to silly surprises and unexpected telephone calls, each book offers something delightfully different. These books are sure to inspire giggles, curiosity, and plenty of conversation. Pandamonium! Written by Annie Bailey Illusrated by Bonnie Wong New York : Feiwel and Freinds, 2026. When the panda family gathers for a reunion, they attempt to take the perfect family photograph. Despite their best efforts to look their finest and sit still, the little pandas become increasingly wiggly and giggly. Fun panda facts at the end add an educational touch to this playful celebration of family togetherness. I Think We're Upside Down! By Marcus Cutler New York : G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2026. Rabbit and Raccoon discover that something is very wrong with their world. When Raccoon’s new basketball ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Books to Read When... You're Feeling Dreamy

By
As the days get shorter and the nights feel darker, my dreams become more vivid. I love waking up remembering little pieces of the adventures my mind had while I slept. Here are some fanciful picture books to take you to dreamland. If the Moon Written by Matthew Burgess Illustrated by Matthew Forsythe Naperville, IL : Stonefruit Studio, an imprint of Sourcebooks, 2026. Picture book. This lyrical bedtime picture book explores possibility and imagination through dreams. A little child transports and transforms between inner worlds (and outer space!) while falling asleep. White pages, variegated blacks, and blurry, cozy colors play together as the liminal spaces between waking and dreaming.  Mr. Lepron's Mystery Soup Written by Giovanna Zoboli Illustrated by Mariachiara di Giorgio Translated from Italian by Denise Muir Somerville, Massachusetts : Candlewick Studio, an imprint of Candlewick Press, 2024. Picture book. Mr. Lepron's homemade vegetable soup is so extraordinary that he ...
Post a Comment
Read more