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4.38 AVERAGE
4.38 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I googled books that might be Newbery contenders this year, and this book was listed. I loved it! I'm glad I found it.
Kareem Between follows Kareem, a Muslim American middle school student who loves football. Each chapter includes a football rule that relates to the narrative, which I found delightful. It reminded me of how Gary Schmidt weaves Shakespeare into Wednesday Wars and the labors of Hercules into The Labors of Hercules Beal. Turns out I really like that approach.
Kareem faces typical middle school problems like not fitting in and dealing with peer pressure. He also struggles with his identity as a Muslim American. Throughout the story, Kareem learns valuable lessons about friendship, family, and self-acceptance.
What also stands out to me is the prose. The author uses it to enhance the storytelling, employing techniques like concrete poetry. This use of words to tell the story more powerfully was beautifully done.
Kareem Between follows Kareem, a Muslim American middle school student who loves football. Each chapter includes a football rule that relates to the narrative, which I found delightful. It reminded me of how Gary Schmidt weaves Shakespeare into Wednesday Wars and the labors of Hercules into The Labors of Hercules Beal. Turns out I really like that approach.
Kareem faces typical middle school problems like not fitting in and dealing with peer pressure. He also struggles with his identity as a Muslim American. Throughout the story, Kareem learns valuable lessons about friendship, family, and self-acceptance.
What also stands out to me is the prose. The author uses it to enhance the storytelling, employing techniques like concrete poetry. This use of words to tell the story more powerfully was beautifully done.
emotional
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The book is a quick read as the story is told in verse. The plot was a bit predictable, but that didn’t keep me from enjoying the story.
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
This is an exceptional book because its complexity portrays the complexity and depth of real life. I loved the athleticism of football played, the thinking in terms of football, the family love and struggles, the friends, the bullying and social problems, the identity awareness and political engagement. I loved the 85 Bears and I was at O’Hare protesting the Muslim ban January 2017. This is an excellent novel and has wide appeal. A must read.
I got a little teary I won’t lie. I also wanted to smack that boy many times. But he did so good in the end! I do feel like a proud mom when I read the end of middle grade books now lol
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
As a Syrian American and a teacher, I can’t wait to put this book in the hands of my students. I think the verse makes it more accessible for reluctant readers, though for me personally I would have preferred standard verse instead of the f
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