A review by guylou
Kareem Between by Shifa Saltagi Safadi

5.0

𝗞𝗔𝗥𝗘𝗘𝗠 𝗕𝗘𝗧𝗪𝗘𝗘𝗡 𝗯𝘆 𝗦𝗵𝗶𝗳𝗮 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗶 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗮𝗱𝗶 was the Paws & Pages Book Club March selection. This middle-grade novel is powerful and timely and captures the struggles of a Syrian-American seventh grader caught between cultures, friendships, and difficult choices. Kareem just wants to fit in—his best friend moved away, he failed his football tryout, and now he’s stuck showing the new Syrian refugee student around school. When the star quarterback offers him a spot on the team in exchange for doing his homework, Kareem faces a moral dilemma. Meanwhile, his mother’s journey to bring his grandparents to the U.S. takes a heartbreaking turn when the 2017 Muslim Ban leaves them stranded. This deeply emotional story shines a light on the real impact of immigration policies while exploring themes of identity, belonging, and courage. With its relatable characters and spot-on football metaphors, this is a must-read.