THIS IS A RESCHEDULED EVENT FROM 11/15/23.
Kareem’s home is in Damascus with his family, living a complicated but seemingly ordinary life. When a local boy is killed in the custody of the police after tagging subversive slogans, he and his friends start secretly using graffiti to send their own messages of freedom. Soon thereafter, his parents send him to live with his family in the United States for his own safety.
His cousin, Samira, is living a very different life. Always feeling like the outcast, she joins the popular girls in the Spirit Squad to fit in. When Kareem is sent to live with Sam’s family, they cannot see eye-to-eye. As graffitied messages appear around town and all eyes turn to Kareem, Sam must decide: does she stay silent to protect her new social status, or does she stand with Kareem?
About the Author:
Rhonda Roumani is a Syrian-American journalist who has written about Islam, the Arab world and Muslim-American issues for more than two decades. She also writes non-fiction and fiction books for children. She started writing children’s books in 2017, when she ran a book fair at her daughter’s school and couldn’t find a single book written by an Arab author. Tagging Freedom is her first middle grade novel.
Ages 9-14
This event is free to attend and open to the public, however, reservations are required for school groups interested in attending. Seating is available on a first come, first served basis.
