Review by Booklist Review
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.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 3--7--In fall 2016, Kareem begins seventh grade feeling alone. His best friend moved, and he didn't make the football team. When the quarterback--who's also the coach's son--offers him a redemptive chance to join the Spring Squad, Kareem's hopeful yes is an agreement to cheat by doing racist bully Austin's homework. Life at home isn't much better, especially after his mother returns to Syria, hoping to bring his ill grandfather to the U.S. for treatment. The chaos of her leaving is replaced by the devastation of separation with the 2017 Muslim Ban. Kareem won't stay silent--his voice has the power to do right and really win. Syrian American actor Romano infuses Syrian American Safadi's novel-in-verse with gentle strength and steely tenacity, seamlessly projecting typical middle school drama amid global issues affecting millions. VERDICT Romano expertly elevates National Book Award finalist Safadi's already insightful narrative with genuine warmth and enduring impact.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
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 SchneiderNovember/December 2024 p.97 (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
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 (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
