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4.37 AVERAGE
4.37 AVERAGE
emotional
sad
medium-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Racism, Islamophobia
Moderate: Death, Racial slurs, Religious bigotry
Minor: War
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Kareem, a 12-year-old Muslim Syrian American, struggles with bullies, making friends, and the 2017 Muslim ban.
Kareem's personality is "football," and the book uses that lens in every chapter, with an introduction to an NFL term followed by a metaphorical vignette. The NFL metaphors could have worked if they weren't so forced. I am not a fan of sports fiction in general, but a particular pet peeve is when young men can't understand anything without comparing it to their hobby. There also wasn't much of the sport.
Other notes:
Kareem's personality is "football," and the book uses that lens in every chapter, with an introduction to an NFL term followed by a metaphorical vignette. The NFL metaphors could have worked if they weren't so forced. I am not a fan of sports fiction in general, but a particular pet peeve is when young men can't understand anything without comparing it to their hobby. There also wasn't much of the sport.
Other notes:
- There is a stranded idea about languages and grammar which sometimes takes the place of the NFL metaphors. It confused me and could either have been dropped or elaborated on.
- I don't understand why middle grade books reference each other so much. The Crossover and Holes are the ones I remember being namedropped.
- The moment when the Muslim ban takes over the book, it grows preachier. This was an emotional and terrifying time for many people, but the author's feelings overshadow Kareem's.
- At the beginning of this book, Kareem is upset people can't pronounce his name right, and the bully character decides to call him "K". Later Kareem dreams of hearing it announced in a stadium. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has been a figure in American sports for decades and is not mentioned once.
I liked the bond between Kareem and his sister.
I think this would have worked for me more if more was expanded upon. I listened to the audiobook and can't speak to the written poetry.
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-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
I loved this book. So worthy of the National Book Award for Literature for Young People. Fun tie to Chicago with the Chicago Bears.
National Book Award Finalist. All the cards were stacked against this poor book bc I hate football and I was beginning to lose my mind that so many of the nominated YA books were in verse. Kareem’s family navigating the Muslim ban is really the heart of the story and that part did have my crying on the bus home from school. Kareem himself is a beautifully done character as well. I did find the football analogies to be a bit much and I’m slightly of the belief that this would have been more powerful as standard prose, but all in all a good surprise.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
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
The story is emotionally moving and realistic. It makes sense that the author is also a teacher and a parent. She clearly knows middle grade kids well. The familial love is extremely sweet and even made me cry. It’s lovely to see a twelve-year-old boy love his mother so much. I also loved the depictions of friendship and the empathy the narrative has for various characters.
The poetry is casual, natural, and beautifully written. It’s the perfect medium for this kind of story.
The political content and author’s note were informative and motivational.
I would have preferred a younger-sounding narrator for the audiobook, ideally an actual child actor, and a more energetic delivery, since the main character is a football-loving twelve-year-old boy.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and plan on reading more by this author!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry
Moderate: Bullying, Confinement, Death, Grief, Toxic friendship
Minor: Torture, Violence, Excrement, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Colonisation, War, Deportation
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I don't think this will have a very broad appeal with middle grade readers as it was a bit slow, very predictable, and didn't have as much football as I would've expected, but readers who relate to being caught between cultures may enjoy it.