Kareem Between

I absolutely LOVED this book! It pulled at my heartstrings and covered so many timely topics. Kareem Between is a middle grade novel told in verse. Kareem is a Syrian American and all he wants to do is fit in and make the football team. When he is told he has to help a new Syrian student in school, he is resentful. That kid can hardly speak English, having to "babysit" him at school isn't going to help him fit in any better. If anything it will make him stand out even more. To make things more stressful, his mom is going back to Syria so she can bring her parents back with her to America. Kareem has never met them before but he has talked to them on the phone for his whole life. Things are tough when his mom leaves, but they get so much more tough when the president passes the Muslim ban and their mom can't come home. This book deals with xenophobia, bullying, family relationships, guilt, and hope. I absolutely LOVED this book.

Amina Banana and the Formula for Friendship

Charming and inspiring, this middle grade book introduces readers to Amina, an immigrant from Syria who has just arrived to Indianapolis. Desperate to fit and try to make American friends, Amina decides to write a formula to help her make friends. Back in Syria she loved science and STEM and she is convinced that with the right formula, she'll be able to fit in. Relatable and cute; this is a great chapter book for kids in elementary school to learn about fitting in, making friends, and being open to those from other cultures. The illustrations are a nice touch as well. I definitely plan on getting the rest of the series for my daughter to read some day!