"Irresistibly appealing and genuinely inspiring--a story that helps us to see the world more clearly, and to see ourselves as powerful enough to change it." --Rebecca Stead, author of Newbery Award Winner When You Reach Me In this compelling companion to New York Times bestseller Amal Unbound, Amal's friend Omar must contend with being treated like a second-class citizen when he gets a scholarship to an elite boarding school. Omar knows his scholarship to Ghalib Academy Boarding School is a game changer, providing him--the son of a servant--with an opportunity to improve his station in life. He can't wait to experience all the school has to offer, especially science club and hopefully the soccer team; but when he arrives, his hopes are dashed. First-year scholarship students aren't allowed to join clubs or teams--and not only that, they have to earn their keep doing menial chores. At first Omar is dejected--but then he gets angry when he learns something even worse--the school deliberately "weeds out" kids like him by requiring them to get significantly higher grades than kids who can pay tuition, making it nearly impossible for scholarship students to graduate. It's a good thing that in his favorite class, he's learned the importance of being stubbornly optimistic. So with the help of his tightknit new group of friends--and with the threat of expulsion looming over him--he sets out to do what seems impossible: change a rigged system.Author: Aisha SaeedPublisher: Nancy Paulsen BooksPublished: 02/01/2022Pages: 224Binding Type: HardcoverWeight: 0.75lbsSize: 8.30h x 5.70w x 1.00dISBN: 9780593108581Audience: Ages 9-12Accelerated Reader:Reading Level: 3.8Point Value: 5Interest Level: Middle GradeQuiz #/Name: 516680 / Omar RisingReview Citation(s): Kirkus Reviews 12/01/2021School Library Journal 01/01/2022 pg. 71Horn Book Magazine 01/01/2022 pg. 121Booklist 02/01/2022 pg. 55Hornbook Guide to Children 01/01/2022 - Superior,Well Above AverageAbout the AuthorAisha Saeed (aishasaeed.com) also wrote the New York Times bestseller Amal Unbound, Written in the Stars, Yes No Maybe So (with Becky Albertalli), and Diana and the Island of No Return, and is a Pakistani American writer, teacher, and attorney. She has been featured on MTV, the Huffington Post, NBC and the BBC. As one of the founding members of the We Need Diverse Books Campaign, she is helping change the conversation about diverse books. Aisha lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with her husband and sons.
