Author: Zoulfa Katouh
Publisher: by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Number of Pages: 417 Pages
Genre: Contemporary, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Young Adult
Rating: 5 stars
Salama Kassab was a pharmacy student when the cries for freedom broke out in Syria. She still had her parents and her big brother; she still had her home. She had a normal teenager’s life.
Now Salama volunteers at a hospital in Homs, helping the wounded who flood through the doors daily. Secretly, though, she is desperate to find a way out of her beloved country before her sister-in-law, Layla, gives birth. So desperate, that she has manifested a physical embodiment of her fear in the form of her imagined companion, Khawf, who haunts her every move in an effort to keep her safe.
But even with Khawf pressing her to leave, Salama is torn between her loyalty to her country and her conviction to survive. Salama must contend with bullets and bombs, military assaults, and her shifting sense of morality before she might finally breathe free. And when she crosses paths with the boy she was supposed to meet one fateful day, she starts to doubt her resolve in leaving home at all.
Soon, Salama must learn to see the events around her for what they truly are—not a war, but a revolution—and decide how she, too, will cry for Syria’s freedom.
My Review:
“Every lemon will bring forth a child, and the lemons will never die out.”
I did it! I finally decided to pick up this book and read it. It was 2:27 am on June 6th when I finished reading it. I was sick, with a pounding head and a runny nose. I couldn’t put it down. All I wanted was to know what happened, and then I went on searched to know what’s happening now. I had to take a few days to think and write about it.
The story revolves around Salama, an 18-year-old girl living in war-torn Syria. A pharmacy student who was promoted to a nurse due to ‘circumstances’. In this story, we follow Salama and watch her lose everything she has, battle with her own fears, and still decide to go on because “We don’t have to stop living because we might die.”
An eye-opening, powerful story of resistance, war, faith, love, friendship, family, loss, pain and perseverance. Since the beginning of this book, you know that you’re about to dive into a story that you’ll never forget.
The story is set in the city of Homs, Syria. The city and the neighboring cities are destroyed by the dictatorship that has unleashed hell upon the freedom fighters of Syria. As we follow our protagonist, we see cracked roads, flattened buildings, homes with bullet holes, famine, and diseases painting the hardships the people of Syria have gone through. This story is sad. But not so dark I tell you. It’s splattered with a little bit of love and hope just enough to make you smile.
The first thing I noticed in this book was the writing. Easily understandable. The descriptive language and imagery used made the reading experience real. The studio Ghibli references felt a bit forced into the storyline to me. Despite the shifted timelines, the events were based on real-life incidents. Reference to incidents such as the Syrian activist Ghiyath Matar and the incident where a dying Syrian kid’s last words uttered were “I am going to tell God everything” leaves an impact on the reader.
We come across few other characters other than Salama: Kenan, Layla, Am, Lama, Yusuf, Dr. Ziad, and Khawf. I loved the character of Kenan more than Salama. He is a very rebellious and brave young kid, doing everything he can to tell the struggles of his people. The most intriguing character for me was Khawf, a character that’s only known by the protagonist, fear personified. Giving such powers to your fears was a very dangerous thing to do and a very mind-boggling technique used by the author.
The romance in the book was simple and beautiful. What I liked the most about their story was them overcoming all the hurdles together as a married couple.
To talk about what I really adored about this story, patriotism. A deep love one carries for their country in their hearts. Their willingness to sacrifice and fight for their motherland. The longing to protect it and run back to it.
This is the land of your father, and his father before him. Your history is embedded in this soil. No country in the world will love you as yours does.”
The book also covers several themes like war, friendship, love, and family. The author also touched upon something many don’t talk about: survivor’s guilt. The guilt of leaving your motherland, family, and friends behind, especially in such dire situations.
“Survivor’s skin is a remorse we are cursed to wear forever.”
Along with it she leaves very clear hints on PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). You notice this in almost all the characters you meet in this book.
The preseverance of humankind is just amazing. To go on with life, cling on to the little bit of hope you have and enjoy the present moment.
“I want you to hold on to that. No matter what happens, you remember that this world is more than the agony it contains. We can have happiness, Salama. Maybe it doesn’t come in a cookie-cutter format, but we will take the fragments and we will rebuild it.”
It’s been a while since a book kept me awake. As Long As Lemon Trees Grow did it. It was a very captivating read which made me open a number of tabs in my phone and check on the ongoing war in Syria. After going through ‘few’ articles, I now have a question.
Does this book give you an in-depth picture of the ongoing Syrian War? Here’s what I felt: It doesn’t. While reading, I started seeing all the pictures I saw on the internet come back to mind. The book addresses the war’s surface-level issues but doesn’t explore the complexities of the conflict. However, it’s definitely a great starting point and a book that will compel you to research further.
Finally, this is a book that lingers long after you’ve read it. It’s a beautifully written and captivating exploration of resilience, faith, and the unwavering love for one’s country. Prepare to be swept away by a story that reminds us of a group the world has forgotten, a story that will make you laugh, cry, and yearn for a better future.
Until next time,
Yours,
Amna. xoxo
The Book Witch of Hogwarts 