A review by bibliomich
Kareem Between by Shifa Saltagi Safadi

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? No

4.0

I recently finished reading Kareem Between just in time to see Shifa Saltagi Safadi win the 2024 National Book Award for Young People's Literature, a well earned accolade for this powerful middle grade novel in verse. Safadi has created such a lovable character in Kareem, and I believe many of my students (particularly the football fans) will enjoy reading his story. From a teacher perspective, this book is rife with curricular opportunities, and I'm looking forward to introducing my students to this one and adding it to my classroom library.

Thank you to NetGalley for my advanced reader copy.