Kareem Between: Second Quarter

by Shifa Saltagi Safadi
In this novel in verse, Syrian American Kareem struggles to fit in and make his middle school football team during a time of difficulty for his family.

Here are links to our lists for the book: Preseason, Game Time, First Quarter, Second Quarter, Third Quarter, Fourth Quarter–Overtime

25 words 11 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. sullen
    showing a brooding ill humor
    I look at Austin.
    His stare is sullen,
    and he stands apart
    from his dad.
  2. propel
    cause to move forward with force
    We take off,
    and I fly forward,
    motivation propelling me into
    motion.
  3. surge
    rise or move forward
    But
    as Fadi falls back,
    Austin surges forward
    and
    I sprint ahead,
    trying to catch up.
  4. chaos
    a state of extreme confusion and disorder
    Without Mama to lead us,
    Friday nights are now
    chaos,
    everyone scrambling to
    figure out
    what to do,
    how best to organize ourselves,
    Khale Afaf and Baba
    each trying to
    hand out boxes
    for sorting,
    but no one
    can
    say imperative sentences
    like
    Mama.
  5. topple
    fall down, as if collapsing
    I turn,
    run into
    Jameelah,
    who knocks down
    a can,
    which topples
    a pasta box pile,
    and
    everything
    falls
    like
    dominoes.
  6. clobber
    defeat thoroughly and conclusively in a competition or fight
    Sunday’s game ends
    with the Packers
    clobbering the Giants,
    much to my
    disappointment.
  7. creep
    move slowly
    I creep to the steps and listen
    as Stanley Jones reports.
  8. wrench
    twist and compress, as if in pain or anguish
    And before I can
    correct him,
    before I can say anything,
    his hands are
    twisting,
    wrenching,
    jerking,
    and
    Fadi’s poster
    about Syria
    is
    rip ped to shr eds.
  9. waver
    pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness
    When she gets off the class phone,
    my teacher’s eyes linger on Fadi’s desk,
    and her voice
    wavers as she speaks.
  10. exposed
    with no protection or shield
    I’m a QB
    out of the
    pocket,
    exposed.
  11. deed
    something that people do or cause to happen
    I finish my prayer,
    say peace to the two angels on my shoulders
    recording my deeds,
    good or bad,
    and look up.
  12. trudge
    walk heavily and firmly, as when weary, or through mud
    Austin and
    his friends
    trudge in front of me,
    and he
    glances back
    with a
    cold,
    cruel
    scowl.
  13. glower
    look angry or sullen as if to signal disapproval
    When I
    turn back,
    Fadi and Jerry
    glower
    from behind me.
  14. unnerve
    disturb the composure of
    Like a kicker
    who’s been iced,
    being between
    the
    biting chill of my
    classmates
    unnerves me.
  15. tower
    appear very large or occupy a commanding position
    Austin’s dad towers over
    the field,
    his glower
    making everyone
    hurry quicker
    to the middle.
  16. agape
    with the mouth wide open as in wonder or awe
    But when I turn
    to the
    sideline,
    Coach’s eyes
    are wide,
    his mouth agape.
  17. forthcoming
    of the relatively near future
    Everyone’s shocked faces
    foretell
    the
    forthcoming
    burst of
    fury
    from where
    Austin
    stands.
  18. guffaw
    a burst of loud and hearty laughter
    Guffaws
    escape
    from
    Damon and Clay
    before Austin’s glare
    silences them.
  19. dash
    run or move very quickly
    My little brother dashes to
    the car,
    a satisfied smile on his face,
    a lollipop in his hand.
  20. resolve
    find a solution or answer
    Did the preschool
    resolve the water issue?
  21. scamper
    run or move about quickly or lightly
    Sameer
    scampers
    behind him,
    probably
    avoiding me.
  22. haram
    forbidden by Islamic law
    Deceit:
    lying, tricking,
    haram in Islam.
  23. bustle
    move or cause to move energetically or busily
    Baba bustles in
    behind me.
  24. disqualify
    declare unfit
    Like a match-fix
    being
    found out,
    I’m disqualified
    due to my own
    deceit.
  25. falter
    move hesitatingly, as if about to give way
    Austin falters.
Created on Tue Mar 11 07:53:03 EDT 2025 (updated Thu Mar 13 04:35:30 EDT 2025)

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