Omar Rising

**"Irresistibly appealing and genuinely inspiringa 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 himthe son of a servantwith 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 teamsand not only that, they have to earn their keep doing menial chores. At first Omar is dejectedbut then he gets angry when he learns something even worsethe 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 friendsand with the threat of expulsion looming over himhe sets out to do what seems impossible: change a rigged system.

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