I’m so excited to be a part of the book tour for Kareem Between that is hosted by TBR and Beyond Tours. I was really excited to also be able to interview the author for this book!
INTERVIEW
How would you describe Kareem Between in one sentence?
Kareem Between is a story about finding hope, whether in looking for friends, in navigating school and sports, or in finding your place in society.
Can you introduce us to the main character(s) of Kareem Between?
Absolutely! Kareem is a young middle schooler who loves football, and dreams of playing for the NFL when he grows up. But when he fumbles tryouts, he is left lost at what to do. So he obviously makes tons of mistakes in trying to get his dream!! But his heart shines through! Through his flaws, readers can truly see how loving and sweet he is. He just wants to be seen! He just wants friends. And so, even with all of his mistakes, he is just a sweet lovable character that just needs a hug (and a football win!)
Do you know from the beginning how your books will end or do you let your characters decide their journey?
Honestly, a mix of both!
When I start drafting a book, I typically start writing with plot in mind, so what are the major events of the book, and what scenes bring those events about.
And then I start thinking of the characters emotions as they undergo these events.
But somehow, while I am writing, I always end up veering from my outline. My characters have a mind of their own, and sometimes they go places I never expected them to while writing, and so I am just along with the journey!
Do you have a favorite scene, moment, or quote from the book?
My favorite quote is: “Hope is alive as long as you look for it.”
I think we all need hope. This world has so much terrible things in it, that clinging to hope in a better future is something we all really want to believe in, and want to achieve!
What is something readers will find in Kareem Between that they may not realize based on the
synopsis?
Kareem loves food! You will find a lot of Syrian food mentioned in the pages, and his love for eating will be one of the things affected when his mom travels to Syria, as his father CANNOT cook! Kareem’s belly aches for his mom about as much as his heart does!
What’s something you hope readers will take away from Kareem Between?
I hope they believe in the power of their words! Kareem is thrust into the political climate when he is affected by the Muslim Ban. And due to that, he feels so lost for a portion of the book. But through using his First amendment rights of free speech, protest, and free press- he is able to use his voice to call for justice. And the power of that is something I want young readers to cling to in the face of any oppression!
What are three books you would recommend if someone enjoyed Kareem Between?
All and any verse novels! Check out UNSETTLED by Reem Faruqi, OTHER WORDS FOR HOME by Jasmine Warga, THE CROSSOVER by Kwame Alexander, and BEFORE THE EVER AFTER by Jacqueline Woodson. All books I just adore!
ABOUT THE BOOK
Genre: Middle Grade Contemporary
Publishing date: September 10th, 2024
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound
Rep: Arab and Muslim rep, immigration/refugee rep
Synopsis:
This heartfelt coming-of-age novel in verse tells the powerful story of a seventh grade Syrian-American boy and his struggles, big and small, as he navigates middle-school.Seventh grade begins and Kareem’s fall should be off to a great start. But he’s already fumbled it. His best friend moved away, he bungled his tryout for the football team, and because of his heritage, he was voluntold to show the new kid – a Syrian refugee with a thick and embarrassing accent – around school. Just when Kareem thinks his middle school life has imploded, the hot-shot QB promises to get Kareem another tryout for the squad. There’s a to secure that chance, Kareem must do something he knows is wrong.Then like a surprise blitz, Kareem’s mom returns to Syria to bring her aging parents out of a war zone and to the United States. But a new executive order prevents her from coming home. If Kareem could throw a penalty flag on the fouls of his school and home life, it would be for Unnecessary Roughness. Kareem is stuck between. Between countries. Between friends, between football, between parents—and between right and wrong. It’s up to him to step up, find his confidence, and navigate the beauty and hope found somewhere in the middle.
Content Warning: grief (specifically grandparent passing), islamaphobia
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shifa Saltagi Safadi was born in Syria and immigrated to the US with her parents when she was a young girl. She is a bilingual Arabic/English speaker, and is very familiar with the challenges of learning English and navigating two languages.
As a mom to four Arab American children and an English teacher to Middle School students, (and an author!) she now spends her time helping kids develop a love of reading and writing too.
Stuck in Fiction 