Kareem Between by Shifa Saltagi Safadi. Unabridged e-audio, ~3 hrs. Narrated by Peter Romano. Books on Tape/ Listening Library, September, 2024. Review of e-audiobook borrowed from public library.
Middle Grade Monday features Kareem Between by Shifa Salvage Safadi. Kareem isn't too excited about starting seventh grade in 2016. His best friend moved away, he was cut from the football team, and his mother expects him to befriend a new Syrian boy whose family recently immigrated. Kareem was born in America, struggles to learn Arabic, loves the Chicago Bear and all things football. When the school bully, who happens to be quarterback of the football team promises Kareem a place on the team if he does a project for him, Kareem knows he shouldn't, but wants to be part of the team so badly, he does. Of course, it isn't only one assignment, but Kareem is stuck.
When his grandfather who lives in Syria falls ill, Kareem's mother travels there to arrange for her parents' transfer to the United States, but becomes stuck in Syria when then-President Trump's Muslim Ban goes into effect.
I read this one with my ears and the narrator did a good job, especially pronouncing the Arabic that is woven throughout.
This novel in verse flows lyrically, but the visual structure of the poems also convey meaning, so I reread it with my eyes. It's a short, powerful read that should resonate long after the story ends.
Kareem Between won the National Book Award/ Literature for Young People earlier this fall and appeared on several Best Books lists as well.
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