About the Book

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 was even supposed to be meeting a boy to talk about marriage.

Now Salama volunteers at a hospital in Homs, helping the wounded who flood through the doors. She knows that she should be thinking about leaving, but who will help the people of her beloved country if she doesn't? With her heart so conflicted, her mind has conjured a vision to spur her to action. His name is Khawf, and he haunts her nights with hallucinations of everything she has lost.

But even with Khawf pressing her to leave, when she crosses paths with Kenan, the boy she was supposed to meet on that 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.

About the Author

Zoulfa Katouh is a Canadian-Syrian debut author who is trilingual in English, Arabic and German. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy and is currently pursuing her master’s degree in Drug Sciences. A a passionate advocate about Muslim representation in literature, Zoulfa currently resides in Switzerland.

Reviews

‘A searing story of war, loss, family and love, of seeking grace in madness and hope in tragedy, As Long As the Lemon Trees Grow is a phenomenal tale, a piercing keen for the Syria that was and the Syria that is. An absolute must read.’

Sabaa Tahir, #1 New York Times bestselling author of An Ember in the Ashes

‘As gorgeous as it is groundbreaking, As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow holds many things at once: beauty and ruin; brutality and sweetness; tender love in the midst of shattering violence. Katouh writes with urgency and grace, and while she never shies from the horrors of war, neither does she miss a single note of hope—and there are so many. This book is devastatingly beautiful.’

David Arnold, New York Times bestselling author of Mosquitoland and The Electric Kingdom

‘Wrenching and lyrical, As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow heralds a stunning new voice in young adult literature. This heartbreakingly beautiful novel challenges the reader to open their hearts and minds to the ongoing revolution in Syria against a ruthless dictator – one who has taken too many lives and forced over 7 million Syrians to flee their homeland. Zoulfa Katouh reminds us of the awesome power of love, hope, and tenacity even in the most desperate circumstances.’

Samira Ahmed, New York Times bestselling author of Internment

‘We don’t deserve Katouh’s gorgeous words and heartbreaking story, but she has blessed us with it anyway. As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow is not only stunningly written, it’s also an incredibly important work of our time, a book that will no doubt touch millions and leave us all broken and aching for more of Katouh’s writing.’

Jesse Q. Sutanto, bestselling author of Dial A For Aunties

‘Katouh masterfully tells a story that's both painful and captivating…The story manages to embrace fear in the time of war, love in spite of loss, and hope in the face of darkness. I cannot stress it enough, this book is a must read.’

Huda Fahmy, author of Huda F Are You

‘Brilliant, beautiful, powerful. As Long As the Lemon Trees Grow will leave a profound mark on your soul, transforming the way you see love, loss, and the human capacity for resilience and hope that soars above all’

S.K Ali, New York Times bestselling author of Love from A to Z and Saints and Misfits