Borderline

Starred review from February 1, 2010
Printz Honor–winner Stratton (Chanda's Secrets
) explores the genesis of and fallout from racial and religious discrimination in this thriller about a Muslim boy's life, which is turned on its head when his father is accused of collaborating with Islamic terrorists in a plot to contaminate the water supplies in New York City and Toronto. But 15-year-old Mohammed “Sami” Sabiri has more to worry about than the resulting media circus and his father's incarceration. How can he avoid being bullied at school? How will his mother support the family after being fired? And are the allegations about his father true or are they the result of a scared community and a government embracing prejudice at its worst? When Sami goes undercover to verify his father's innocence, the story reaches a fist-clenching pinnacle before a conclusion that should defy readers' expectations. Despite the sensitive subject matter and potential for sensationalistic writing, Stratton proceeds with a steady hand. It's a powerful story and excellent resource for teaching tolerance, with a message that extends well beyond the timely subject matter. Ages 12–up.

Starred review from March 1, 2010
Gr 7 Up-Fifteen-year-old Sami Sabiri is a typical suburban teen. He is a good student, has a close group of friends, and struggles to live up to his father's expectations. He faces some bullying at school because of his Muslim faith, and does not get the support from the administration to stop it. When his dad cancels a planned trip to Toronto with him, Sami begins to suspect he might be having an affair. He checks up on him and unknowingly stirs up a completely different investigation of the man's behavior. Is Sami's dad a terrorist? What ensues is a tautly paced thriller with well-crafted characters and realistic teen dialogue. It is the plausibility of the plotline that makes it, ultimately, so disturbing. The FBI breaks into the Sabiris' house one night, destroys their belongings, and takes Sami's father away. The teen's troubles at school are neatly juxtaposed with the assumptions made by the FBI about his dad, and ultimately lead toward a positive resolution to Sami's relationship with his father. This is a great, fast-paced read that will have particular appeal to fans of the television show "24". It is also notable for its characterization of a strong male Muslim who is true to his faith and struggles to do the right thing throughout. While the cover art is not compelling, this title will make an excellent booktalk. Once it finds its way into the hands of teens, word of mouth will ensure that it circulates."Kristin Anderson, Columbus Metropolitan Library System, OH"

Copyright 2010 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2010
Grades 8-11 The first half of this tense and compelling novel treads familiar ground: the catch-22 of bullying. Fifteen-year-old Sami, whose father was born in Iran, is regularly harassed by a group of guys who call him a sand monkey. But if he turns them in not only will the beatings worsen but there could be fallout for his family, toohis strict father has worked so hard to become a respected part of the community. The escalating violence at school increases the stress at home; his father now ignores Sami even when they pray together. Strattons grasp of daily Muslim life brings freshness to this story line before unleashing a whole new hell: a late-night FBI raid that implicates Samis father in an international terror ring known as the Brotherhood of Martyrs. Strattons ever-readable prose is peppered with Samis believable inner dialogue, and the social fallout, plot twists, and even Samis renewed interest in his religion all feel authentic. A fast, exciting read with weighty underpinnings.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2010
This timely, tautly written political thriller explores unsettling issues surrounding prejudice. Fifteen-year-old Sami Sabiri, a Muslim, is bullied, but his school troubles are relatively minor: his home has been raided and ransacked by the FBI and his father jailed for terrorist collaboration. Sami daringly strikes out to learn the truth; his adventures provide fast-paced, provocative (if occasionally credulity-stretching) reading.

(Copyright 2010 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)