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readingwhilemommying 's review for:
As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow
by Zoulfa Katouh
This novel will break your heart--the real-life horrors that inspired it are devastating. Yet, as with all good fiction, it will also restore your faith in survival, love, and hope.
Categorized as a YA book, this debut by Zoulfa Katouh spotlights Salama Kassab, a Syrian girl living in Homs during the 2011 civil war. Salama is studying to be a pharmacist, but has to do surgeries and more at the local hospital, which is one of the only places safe from the Syrian Arab Republic military's brutal attacks on the Syrian resistance. After her mother is killed and her father and brother are captured, Salama struggles with staying to fight/help or trying to escape the violence and death with her pregnant sister-in-law. More than fear and devastation goad her on--Salama's PTSD has manifested itself as a shadowy figure called Khawf who haunts every move.
When she meets Kenan, the boy she was supposed to meet for an arranged marriage, Salama's resolution is further tested. Should she stay with her new love and fight even more for her beloved country--land of the resilient lemon trees that have survived for centuries--or take the chance that another locale offers a better, safer life?
No one should have to deal with this agonizing choice, let alone an 18-year-old girl. Salama is a force--all credit to Katouh for writing not only a fully realized character, but one whose internal struggle is relatable and powerful. As you would expect, the horrors that inspired this narrative keep the plot moving, but Salama's personal struggles amidst the political events add the piece to humanity that is often neglected in the quick social media news stories of today.
If you're looking for a book for your teen to read that you can discuss with them, this is a great choice. Part romance, part survival story...and you can educate them about the Syrian revolution, which I, sadly, didn't know enough about. It's also great for adult readers who just want a story that speaks to a woman's resilience in the face of forces beyond her control. I loved it.
Categorized as a YA book, this debut by Zoulfa Katouh spotlights Salama Kassab, a Syrian girl living in Homs during the 2011 civil war. Salama is studying to be a pharmacist, but has to do surgeries and more at the local hospital, which is one of the only places safe from the Syrian Arab Republic military's brutal attacks on the Syrian resistance. After her mother is killed and her father and brother are captured, Salama struggles with staying to fight/help or trying to escape the violence and death with her pregnant sister-in-law. More than fear and devastation goad her on--Salama's PTSD has manifested itself as a shadowy figure called Khawf who haunts every move.
When she meets Kenan, the boy she was supposed to meet for an arranged marriage, Salama's resolution is further tested. Should she stay with her new love and fight even more for her beloved country--land of the resilient lemon trees that have survived for centuries--or take the chance that another locale offers a better, safer life?
No one should have to deal with this agonizing choice, let alone an 18-year-old girl. Salama is a force--all credit to Katouh for writing not only a fully realized character, but one whose internal struggle is relatable and powerful. As you would expect, the horrors that inspired this narrative keep the plot moving, but Salama's personal struggles amidst the political events add the piece to humanity that is often neglected in the quick social media news stories of today.
If you're looking for a book for your teen to read that you can discuss with them, this is a great choice. Part romance, part survival story...and you can educate them about the Syrian revolution, which I, sadly, didn't know enough about. It's also great for adult readers who just want a story that speaks to a woman's resilience in the face of forces beyond her control. I loved it.