Kareem Haddad of Damascus, Syria, never dreamed of becoming a graffiti artist.

But when a group of boys from another town tag subversive slogans outside their school, and another boy is killed while in custody, Kareem and his friends are inspired and start secretly tagging messages of freedom around their city.

Meanwhile, in the United States, his cousin, Samira, has been trying to make her own mark. Anxious to fit in at school, she joins the Spirit Squad where her natural artistic ability attracts the attention of the popular squad leader. Then Kareem is sent to live with Sam’s family, and their
worlds collide. As graffitied messages appear around town and all eyes turn to Kareem, Sam must make a choice: does she shy away to protect her new social status, or does she stand with Kareem?

Exploring the intersection of art, activism, and social justice, Rhonda Roumani’s stunning debut introduces two unforgettable characters who use their voices and creativity to change their lives … and the world.