KAREEM BETWEEN is a novel in verse about Syrian-American Kareem, who is navigating middle school. His best friend has moved away, and he hopes that he can make the school’s football team to feel like he’s a part of something. When he fails to make the team, he hopes that forging a friendship with the coach’s son will help him make the team for the next season, but soon finds that this “friendship” comes at a cost. His life becomes more complicated when his mother must return to Syria to care for his grandfather and bring him to the U.S for treatment. While she is in Syria, the president issues a ban preventing people from certain Muslim countries, including Syria, from entering the U.S., placing his mom’s return in jeopardy.
The book addresses issues of identity that many middle schoolers are dealing with—the feeling of being stuck between two different worlds, each with its own expectations and demands. Kareem is a relatable character, and readers will root for him as he wrestles with determining what he stands for and how he will respond to events around him, even when he makes questionable choices. The football metaphors woven throughout the story work beautifully and will draw in readers who might otherwise not pick up a book like this. A powerful and timely read with heart and relevance.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sharing an eARC of the book with me.

MG novel about a Syrian-American boy during Trump's Muslim Ban order. Themes include racism, making good choices, the first generation American experience, and coming of age. While not designed for reluctant readers, I could see this being of interest to them. Genuinely touching at moments as well as occasionally funny (the dynamic between Kareem and his sister feels very realistic and sibling-like). Bring tissues for the end.

I received a free eARC of this book.

Kareem is a child, stuck between two worlds. A Syrian-American Moslem, he was born in the US, to immigrant parents. He struggles with Arabic in Saturday school. He struggles to fit in at school. He loves football, but doesn’t make the team, He struggles to be a good friend to the Syrian refugees sponsored by his mosque because he wants to fit in, and is taken advantage of by the football coach’s son. He loves talking to his grandfather about sports, school, and life, but have never met him in person-but has a chance-his mother is going to Syria to bring her father and mother back to the US, where her father can get the treatment he needs.

But, a few months before Donald Trump was elected, and one of his first acts is to ban immigration from predominantly Moslem countries.

Kareem Between is a beautiful book, and one that is particularly timely. I’m writing this only weeks after Donald Trump’s second election, running, again, on a platform of anti-immigration and hate, leaving, many people, like Kareem, feeling stuck. This book should be read. It should be studied. It should be understood.

This was an excellent read. It humanizes the immigrant experience in the current political landscape. It was very interesting to read about it from a young person’s perspective. Shifa Safadi explains things in a way that middle grade students with be able to understand and appreciate what happened and continues to happen.
Congrats on the NBA award, well deserved.

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.

I've been hearing so much about this book, and it did not disappoint! "Kareem Between" is a lovely coming-of-age story about a Syrian-American tween, Kareem, who's goal in life is to be a football player. Unfortunately, Kareem is struggling with a problematic classmate who makes him question what the right choices are when a spot on the team is on the line. Kareem is also dealing with family problems and trying to help a new classmate while also struggling to fit in himself. Set during the aftermath of the 2016 election, Kareem's family deals with real-life issues of Islamophobia and the attempted ban on Muslim immigrants. The novel combines humor and heart to create a touching and relatable story of family, friendship, and listening to your heart when everything else seems to be against you. This novel is a great choice for all readers, and the novel-in-verse format and football references will engage even the most reluctant of readers.

4.5⭐️
I thought this book was so cool. It’s a novel in verse that’s actually about football (no shade on my favourite Jacqueline Woodson) and friendship. I learned some sports vocabulary while falling for Kareem and his whole family. Might be my fav NIV of the year! Since my school has many Syrian kids, I can’t wait to get a copy - it’s out this Tuesday. I listened to the audio, which was great too.

Thanks to LibroFM, NetGalley, and the publisher for advance audio and digital copies.

KAREEM BETWEEN is a powerful coming-of-age novel about a Syrian American struggling to fit in at school while also dealing with bullies, the 2017 Muslim band, prejudice, and so much more! I'll be recommending this one to kids for sure!

It’s 2016, Trump is the president, and the main character, Kareem, who lives in Indiana, is dealing with being Syrian-American and in middle school. His best friend just moved away and Kareem didn’t make the football team, so his 7th grade year is not off to a good start. Kareem also struggles with befriending another Syrian refugee because he thinks it will lower his status in school. At home, he is stuck with his dad because his mom leaves the US to attempt to bring her parents over from Syria. Unfortunately his mom gets stuck in Syria–the US had put a ban on people traveling from there and other countries–and eventually goes missing as she escapes the government in Syria. This book started off reading like a sports book, with lots of football references, but it ended up being an emotional refugee story. Highly recommended for middle school and up.

Kareem is a Syrian American boy who is desperate to fit in. When a new boy arrives from Syria and he is asked to show him around, Kareem is worried that this is just going to make him stick out even more and he isn't as welcoming as he could be and it all starts to go wrong. On top of this, his mum has to return to Syria to bring her elderly parents to America so that Kareem's grandfather can get the medical care he needs. While they wait for him to be well enough to travel, the president signed Executive Order 13769, preventing people coming into America from seven predominantly Muslim countries, including Syria. Kareem's mum is trapped and unable to travel home.

I really enjoyed this book. I remember the Order that split up Kareem's family and so many others and it feels especially poignant to be reading this book just as the same president has returned to power. I hope as many people as possible can read this book and that it encourages people to think about the real families affected by such decisions

Kareem Between is a moving novel-in-verse about a 7th-grade Syrian-American Boy and his struggles at home and school. Kareem dreams of becoming an NFL player when he grows up. He starts 7th grade with his hopes crushed after he didn't make his school's team, and his best friend just moved away. Kareem starts to navigate this school year as best as he can. The football coach's son promises to get him on the football team, but he has to do something he knows is not right. On top of that, Kareem's mom just returned to Syria to take care of her aging parents. Due to an executive order, she finds it difficult to return home. Her absence is felt by Kareem and the rest of the family.

Through Kareem's eyes, readers gain insight into the challenges faced by immigrant families and the complexities of cultural identity. The author's lyrical prose captures the nuances of teenage emotions, making Kareem a relatable and sympathetic character.

Kareem Between is a powerful and thought-provoking read that will resonate with young adults and adults alike.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

A novel in verse set during the 2016-17 school year will attract football fans, but the historical aspect will also be of interest to other readers.

Kareem lives in Chicago with his mom, dad, older sister and younger brother. He is a huge fan of the Chicago Bears. Kareem also loves to play football but has been cut from the team. The coach’s son promises to help him get back on the squad if Kareem does both of their homework assignments. Doing so only causes more conflict.

Family problems add even more tension and anxiety in Kareem’s life. He was born in the U.S. as a Syrian-American. Kareem feels stuck between the two worlds. When a new family arrives from Syria, Kareem is asked to be a friend to Fadi. Not wanting to stand out he fails this task in more ways than one.

Meanwhile, his grandparents are in Syria and Mom goes back there to bring them to America. She gets trapped and is unable to return home due to then-President Trump’s ban on travel from Muslim nations. Kareem feels it was his fault as his actions initially caused the trip to be delayed.

The tension Kareem faces parallels with the inclusion of NFL Facts and Rules. Each section of the story matches the football season. It works well combining Kareem’s passion with his own life right through overtime.

Another plus is Kareem loves to read and he relates to many middle grade classic characters of that time. Books like Holes, The Last Fifth Grade of Emerson Elementary, Wimpy Kid, and Hatchet help Kareem in his own life. These along with his family’s support lead Kareem to fight the injustice of having his family on different sides of the planet and finds the importance of being himself.

Social issues, language barriers, and an enduring main character make Kareem Between a special title.

Loved this novel in verse with its strong football and family themes. Deals with actual recent historic events without feeling overwrought. Provides great insight to racism and immigration bans and their meaningful impact on families.

Kareem Between is a story about a Syrian American boy whose love for football drives him. In his pursuit to make the team, he finds himself making difficult choices to choose between his values and identity or his dreams. When his mom visits Syria to bring her father to the United States and is there during the Muslim ban, Kareem's world turns upside down, his priorities shift, and while holding onto his football dream he also begins to connect more with who he is and where he comes from.

This is one of the few books featuring a Muslim American lead character that I truly enjoyed. As a Muslim American girl who turned 13 right before 9/11, finding that balance of holding onto my Muslimness while also trying to fit in as an American was hard and something I never truly succeeded at for a long time. In the face of a lot of hate, there was hope though, and I did find my space and communities where I was welcome without having sacrificing who I am, and that is one of the most freeing feelings.

This fantastic middle grade novel is written in verse. It plays with form and language concepts to emphasize points. Kareem Between takes place during the Muslim Ban in 2017, where President Trump banned people from six predominately Muslim countries from entering the United States. This ban has a huge impact on Kareem's family who are Syrian American.

Middle school is tough, it's even harder when your best friend moves away and you don't make the football team. Kareem struggles finding his place. He faces racism and bullying from the football QB, but doesn't let his hope falter. When a new Syrian immigrant arrives Kareem has to decide what he stands for and how to make real friends.

I loved the emphasis of American football rules on every day life. I learned more about the game as Shifa Salvage Safari expertly wove America's favorite sport into her novel. She also included English grammar concepts and how tricky it is to learn a new language. I can see this being a future popular book to read and analyze in school. Kareem Between is long listed for the 2024 National Book Awards, in Young People’s Literature.

Kareem's best friend moves away and is left trying to figure out his place in the school. He wants to play football and tries to befriend the star QB, only to be used and abused. Fadi moves into the neighborhood as a Syrian refugee and Kareem had to decide if he's going to stand up to QB Austin, or if he's going to go along with Austin to secure himself a spot on the team.

Such a moving and timely story for readers to truly see how hurtful and harmful assumptions and stereotypes are.

Kareem Between has been longlisted for 2024 National Book Awards, Young People’s Literature. And there’s good reason. Author Shifa Saltagi Safadi is a talented storyteller. Her main character loves American football. That’s what motivates him. It’s a sport I just don’t care about. But in Safadi’s deft hands, I cared about Kareem. I cared about his life. I cared about his story so much, that my apathy toward football fell by the wayside. That’s what good writing can do.

A novel in verse, Kareem Between, moves quickly. Safadi deftly explores friendship, community and family. Kareem is straddling that line between childhood and young adulthood where everything feels possible and impossible at the same time. His growth throughout the novel is beautiful to watch unfold.

Kareem Between is the type of book that you want your kid to read. It would be an excellent classroom resource, as well as appealing to independent readers.

Whenever I see a Middle Grade Novel written in verse I knew that I will be put through the wringer and Kareem Between did just that and more.

Being a Brit who really has no interest in any sport but was totally bowled over by the way Shifa used the NFL to flow throughout giving a person who knows nothing explanations on how American Football is played and then entwined into the actual storyline was just plain clever writing.

I felt what Kareem was feeling and yes that meant at times I was tearing up and the issues that Kareem faced was handed so eloquently. For me books like this are so overlooked and should be recognised more.

For all the above reasons Kareem Between receives 5 stars.

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 ashamed/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.
An amazing and emotional ending standing for truth.

Kareem, a Syrian-American in middle school, lives for football. When he flubs his tryout, he’ll do anything to make the team, including some things that he’s not so proud of. He should be a better friend to a fellow Syrian student and he definitely should not be doing the quarterback's homework in hopes of making the team. Things at home are not any better than school. When his mom travels to Syria to help her father, she becomes stranded there when America imposes a ban on Syrians entering the country. Kareem is struggling to be a good friend, a good son, and a good Syrian-American.

Fans of The Crossover by Kwame Alexander and Ghost by Jason Reynolds will love this book written in verse showing a boy’s love for family and football. I will be adding this to my most recommended books for middle schoolers.