Coping with the usual belly full of nerves that attending a new school always brings, Omar immediately finds a new best friend in Charlie.  Unfortunately for Omar and Charlie, Daniel, the school bully, takes a dislike to them both just as quickly.  Omar has a good heart and tries to do the right thing most of the time.  He really wants the bullying to just go away.  Side by side, Omar and Charlie try to stay below the radar.  Omar, his family, and Charlie are good role models for readers because they demonstrate good decisions and families that work together through hard times.   

Full of doodles and fun art work, this book is fun in an eye-catching way.  The author has written it in a way that’s light-hearted and well balanced verbally.  The font is comparable to a size fourteen font and has a little extra spacing between the lines so it could be appropriate for young readers looking to move into chapter books.  The pacing flows well and is narrated by Omar who’s a classic ten-year-old or so boy who gets distracted at the drop of a hat.  However, at times the book felt like religious education.  There are a lot of details about the Muslim faith presented at a kid’s level of understanding.  The story culminates beautifully when Omar has the chance to practice kindness, reaching out to the people around him, thinking through a problem, and where to go for help. 

Review of an Advanced Reading Copy.

This book was sent to Compass Book Ratings for review by G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers

Content Analysis:

Profanity/Language:  4 religious exclamations. 

Violence/Gore:  A bully says mean things about a boy’s mom; an elderly woman fell and hurt herself, ambulance arrives, no permanent damage; 2 boys get lost in a big city; 2 boys scared when a man chases them and tries to help them. 

Sex/Nudity: None

Mature Subject Matter:

Muslim faith, discrimination, homelessness, a child hospitalized. 

Alcohol / Drug Use:

Implied that alcohol was in chocolates given as a gift.