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4.38 AVERAGE
4.38 AVERAGE
emotional
informative
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:
Complicated
This is one of the best juvenile fiction books I’ve read! And really masterfully handling the real difficulties and prejudices in life with nuance and flaws. Highly highly recommend.
emotional
inspiring
reflective
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:
Complicated
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
Seventh grade is off to a rocky start for Kareem—his best friend is gone, his football tryout flopped, and he's reluctantly tasked with helping a new Syrian refugee student. But when an unexpected chance to redeem himself arises, Kareem must navigate a tough choice while his mom faces a crisis back in Syria, testing his resolve and pushing him to find his own path amid the chaos.
*light spoilers below, please review any content warnings prior to reading*
This book had me in my feelings from the very beginning. I immediately felt drawn to Kareem and was rooting for him. This is a gorgeous novel in verse, and the way the words jump off the pages is incredible. There are certain pages and passages that embody the entire page, bring visuals to the forefront, and make you feel every single emotion. I will definitely revisit this one as an audiobook because I am sure the audio is spectacular.
Kareem’s inner turmoil, his thoughts and feelings, him trying to understand the world around him, realizing what is important, and standing up for himself and his friends and family had me wiping tears from my cheeks by the end.
Friends, when he sees his mother again, I wept.
I highlighted several passages that meant a lot to me. Such a beautiful story. Please do not miss the author’s note. 💜
*light spoilers below, please review any content warnings prior to reading*
This book had me in my feelings from the very beginning. I immediately felt drawn to Kareem and was rooting for him. This is a gorgeous novel in verse, and the way the words jump off the pages is incredible. There are certain pages and passages that embody the entire page, bring visuals to the forefront, and make you feel every single emotion. I will definitely revisit this one as an audiobook because I am sure the audio is spectacular.
Kareem’s inner turmoil, his thoughts and feelings, him trying to understand the world around him, realizing what is important, and standing up for himself and his friends and family had me wiping tears from my cheeks by the end.
Friends, when he sees his mother again, I wept.
I highlighted several passages that meant a lot to me. Such a beautiful story. Please do not miss the author’s note. 💜
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
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
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
emotional
informative
fast-paced
My favorite thing about this novel is that the author uses NFL, sports rules and sports conduct to explain fouls in daily life behavior relating to: racism, prejudice, bullying, community pressure, trying to please others to belong, relationships between peers and adults, being ashame/proud of inheritance. We also learn a lot about new terms, expressions, or words and their definitions while they are used in practice/life.
Kareem "drops the ball" a lot in many ways, but he has a great sense of right or wrong.
Kareem "drops the ball" a lot in many ways, but he has a great sense of right or wrong.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Religious bigotry
Minor: War, Deportation
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
“This is a country of free speech. But sometimes, words spoken freely hurt.”
🏈
Kareem’s best friend moved away so he thought he would try out for the football team to make new friends. When he doesn’t make the team, the coach’s son, Austin, makes him a deal. If Kareem does his homework for him, he’ll make sure he gets on for spring football. Kareem doesn’t feel good about this, but he’s desperate for a friend and a place to belong. Around the same time a new Syrian family moves into town, but Kareem doesn’t want to be friendly with their son at school for fear of being seen as different. His mom also decides to go to Syria to bring her ailing father and mother back with her, but when the 2017 Muslim Ban goes into effect, they are stuck without a way back to the U.S. Kareem must learn what’s important and to fight for what’s dear to him.
🇸🇾
Can I give a book 10 stars? If I could, I would give @muslimmommyblog MG novel in verse all the ⭐️ I could. This title is timely and shows the effect that 45’s racist comments, laws and executive orders had on so many people in the United States. The football analogy was spot on and even though I cried throughout this read, I will read it again and again to remind myself how important our vote and voice are moving forward, particularly in November. Maybe when some readers put a face, a name, a family to this issue, they will change how they look at immigration issues. I’ll be purchasing this for my middle school library the day it releases September 10.
CW: Islamophobia, racism, bullying, death of a grandparent, grief, xenophobia, hospitalization, anxiety, physical altercation
🏈
Kareem’s best friend moved away so he thought he would try out for the football team to make new friends. When he doesn’t make the team, the coach’s son, Austin, makes him a deal. If Kareem does his homework for him, he’ll make sure he gets on for spring football. Kareem doesn’t feel good about this, but he’s desperate for a friend and a place to belong. Around the same time a new Syrian family moves into town, but Kareem doesn’t want to be friendly with their son at school for fear of being seen as different. His mom also decides to go to Syria to bring her ailing father and mother back with her, but when the 2017 Muslim Ban goes into effect, they are stuck without a way back to the U.S. Kareem must learn what’s important and to fight for what’s dear to him.
🇸🇾
Can I give a book 10 stars? If I could, I would give @muslimmommyblog MG novel in verse all the ⭐️ I could. This title is timely and shows the effect that 45’s racist comments, laws and executive orders had on so many people in the United States. The football analogy was spot on and even though I cried throughout this read, I will read it again and again to remind myself how important our vote and voice are moving forward, particularly in November. Maybe when some readers put a face, a name, a family to this issue, they will change how they look at immigration issues. I’ll be purchasing this for my middle school library the day it releases September 10.
CW: Islamophobia, racism, bullying, death of a grandparent, grief, xenophobia, hospitalization, anxiety, physical altercation
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I’m so happy to have received a NetGalley e-ARC of KAREEM BETWEEN, because this MG verse novel is so beautiful and so important. I only carefully add to my list of “Books Literally Every Human Being Needs to Read At Least Once in Their Lifetime”…I would add KAREEM, no hesitation. A story rooted in activism, community, family, football, and Syrian American pride, KAREEM BETWEEN allows for so many emotions to be felt, necessary history and current events to be learned, and one strong protagonist to shine. I am so excited for Safadi to bring out more poetic stories, as I know the world truly needs them.