Starred review from July 1, 2024
A football-loving, Syrian American Muslim boy must find the courage to confront feelings of being stuck in between the worlds of home, school, and wider society. The start of seventh grade couldn't have gone worse for Kareem: His best friend moved away, and Kareem was cut from the football team. His integrity is challenged when a chance for a spot on next year's team comes with strings attached--helping Austin, the coach's son, cheat by writing an essay for him. Kareem's desire to fit in also affects Fadi, the Syrian Christian refugee classmate his mom has asked him to help. Tensions rise when Kareem's mom is stranded in war-torn Syria as she tries to bring his grandparents to the U.S. Now Kareem must find confidence at school (where xenophobic Austin bullies Fadi) and at home (where Mama's absence is keenly felt). Safadi's verse novel is set during the 2016-17 school year, amid the build-up to then-President Donald Trump's executive order affecting travel from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Syria. The author uses line breaks, concrete poetry, and changes in the alignment of the text to powerfully and evocatively convey conflict between senses of identity and self and to accentuate the story's action. She seamlessly integrates football, literary, Islamic, and Arabic language references into the plot. The book's messages of finding the confidence to stand up against injustice and be true to one's heritage is critically expressed without feeling contrived. A masterfully written, deeply resonant tale. (author's note) (Verse fiction. 8-12)
COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
September 1, 2024
Grades 5-8 Syrian American Kareem sees the world through the lens of football, and he's fumbling hard when he doesn't make the middle-school football team. He ends up agreeing to do the homework of the quarterback in hopes of making the spring squad, which puts his honesty and friendship with a new kid (a refugee) in school on a path toward trouble. When his mother travels back to Syria to bring Kareem's grandfather to the U.S., she gets caught up in the 2017 Muslim Ban. As Kareem's life plunges into chaos, he struggles--both on and off the field--to know who he is as a student, a friend, and a son. The story is told in quick-paced verse threaded with NFL facts that relate to the poems and provide a unique insight into his thoughts, and Kareem's voice effectively expresses the lived experiences of many children of immigrants in a post-2016 world while also incorporating classic middle-grade drama and abundant literary allusions. For fans of Kwame Alexander, Daniel Nayeri, and sports-heavy books with broad appeal.
COPYRIGHT(2024) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Starred review from October 1, 2024
Gr 5 Up-Stuck between his Syrian heritage and his American citizenship, a boy looks for meaning in this powerful novel in verse. It's the end of 2016's summer, and huge Chicago Bears fan Kareem has lost the chance to play quarterback for the school team. When the coach's son and reigning bully strikes a sketchy deal with him, Kareem is stuck lying and cheating in hopes of securing a spot during spring training. His parents welcome a new Syrian family into their community and start pushing for a friendship between their son and Kareem, and it becomes apparent how reluctant he is to embrace where he comes from. His mom travels to Syria to aid her ailing parents but is prevented from returning by the executive order known as the "Muslim Ban," upending their household and leaving Kareem feeling even more lost. Kareem finds meaning in fighting against prejudice and ignorance; however, he'll have to look inward to straighten his own moral compass. This novel seamlessly merges all-American football and NFL terms with Arabic language and Syrian culture. The nonlinear text makes the story dynamic and engaging, drawing readers in from page one. Safadi weaves a story of identity, growing up, standing up for what's right, and boyhood. VERDICT A first purchase for middle school libraries, especially where fresh approaches to sports fiction are in high demand.-Carol Youssif
Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
November 1, 2024
Seventh grader Kareem dreams of becoming the first Syrian American NFL player. He hopes to make the middle school football team as quarterback -- not likely since the coach's son, Austin, is up for that position, though Austin offers to get Kareem on the team if he'll do his homework for him. Conflicts with Austin propel the story, and Kareem must learn to stand up against him and for his new friend Fadi, a recent Syrian refugee. Kareem is a reader, and his books -- Holes, Locomotion, Hatchet -- help him make sense of his world. The story turns dark when Kareem's mother travels to Syria in order to bring her parents to America, but then-President Trump's Executive Order 13769 -- the "Muslim ban" -- goes into effect at the same time, trapping them in Syria. Kareem joins protests against the ban and is bolstered by how widespread those demonstrations are, showing him the power of people taking a stand. Safadi's verse is at times somewhat wordy and didactic, but the story itself is heartfelt and personal, anchored in one boy's perspective and the author's own experiences. From midpoint on, it gathers momentum, becoming a tale of true depth, with characters to care about and a solid resolution. An author's note is appended. Dean Schneider
(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)
July 1, 2024
Seventh grader Kareem dreams of becoming the first Syrian American NFL player. He hopes to make the middle school football team as quarterback -- not likely since the coach's son, Austin, is up for that position, though Austin offers to get Kareem on the team if he'll do his homework for him. Conflicts with Austin propel the story, and Kareem must learn to stand up against him and for his new friend Fadi, a recent Syrian refugee. Kareem is a reader, and his books -- Holes, Locomotion, Hatchet -- help him make sense of his world. The story turns dark when Kareem's mother travels to Syria in order to bring her parents to America, but then President Trump's Executive Order 13769 -- the "Muslim ban" -- goes into effect at the same time, trapping them in Syria. Kareem joins protests against the ban and is bolstered by how widespread those demonstrations are, showing him the power of people taking a stand. Safadi's verse is at times somewhat wordy and didactic, but the story itself is heartfelt and personal, anchored in one boy's perspective and the author's own experiences. From midpoint on, it gathers momentum, becoming a tale of true depth, with characters to care about and a solid resolution. An author's note is appended.
(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)