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This was a great novel in verse. Poems are aligned left and right along with other spacing to highlight aspects of the story. It has wonderful literary references, figurative language, and football details. It‘s all wrapped up in the story of Kareem figuring out his own way as a Syrian American. It‘s set in 2016 & 2017 with the executive order banning international travel from Syria and other countries directly impacting Kareem‘s family.

The Remembered Soldier, by Anjet Daanje (2019, transl. 2025)

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Premise: A former soldier experiencing severe amnesia and PTSD struggles to recover his memories and life after he is brought home from an asylum by a woman who identifies him as her husband.

Review: This is a stunning, deeply moving literary love story that will reward patient readers. ⬇️

Sometimes you just need to enjoy a book with your supper. I‘m already in the middle of several books, but I picked up this one that came off my holds list. It‘s a novel in verse about a middle school Syrian American boy who wants to be on the school football team. It‘s full of football and bookish references.

#TRS2025 #ReadAndEat #NovelInVerse #MiddleGrade

A fun, smart dive into the science of identity and personality. Blends neuroscience, psychology, and humor in a way that‘s both curious and personal. Quirky and thought-provoking.

#JuneSpecials Day 22: #Kissing

Nice book but only 3.5 stars. I like the idea, but it seemed that the child felt too much pressure to “choose” their pronouns & words for the day. A better way the adults could have dealt with it is explained that the child was still valid even if they couldn‘t find their “words” for the day. Still, a good book for introducing children to the concept of pronouns. ⬇️
#lgbtqia2s
#lgbtliterature

This writer will break your heart. Beautiful humans with gutwrenching decisions to make. The despair is palpable. The trilogy follows a Bangladeshi family from the 1970s Revolution and separation of Pakistan to today. The granddaughter, a paleontologist, is incredibly independent but is still tied to tradition. Anam has brilliantly conceived an allegory of a precursor to today's whale to the connections of family stories. PLEASE SOMEONE READ THIS!

Such a sweet book about a girl named Unhei who moves from Korea and is trying to fit in. Her classmates and teacher‘s kindness help her see that her name and heritage are not something that will keep her from making friends in her new school.

#childrensliterature
#schoollibraries

4⭐This book is all about what you would pack in your suitcase if you were an immigrant. It‘s about the things one leaves behind and what one brings to say hi New World this is me. This is lovingly done. It‘s not really about immigration; it‘s more about introducing yourself to a new people in new society and what does that well. And while this book is lovely, it rhymes, it has cadence, it does what it does well. I wish the author had gone further.

Peanut has their own way of doing things. And that‘s OK! Even when things go wrong, they manage to turn them around and make the best of an iffy situation.

A joyous little book with they/them pronouns, a cute character, and fun pictures - but probably not the most memorable.

#bbrc