As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow

By: Zoulfa Katouh

Narrated by: Rasha Zamamiri

Length: 12 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

A love letter to Syria and its people, As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow is a speculative novel set amid the Syrian Revolution, burning with the fires of hope, love, and possibility. Perfect for fans of The Book Thief and Salt to the Sea.

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.

©2022 Zoulfa Katouh (P)2022 Little, Brown Young Readers

Critic 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 NYT bestselling author of An Ember in the Ashes

"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 nearly 13 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. A gorgeous, compelling read that you will not be able to put down."—Samira Ahmed, New York Times bestselling author of Internment

"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, author of Love from A to Z

Tough story

Sad glimpse into the people of Syria and their awful struggle. I felt the narrator was overly dramatic and the author’s overuse of some anatomical terms I found annoying. Overall, the story is engaging, but might be better in print

Just WOW.

this was splendid. how well written. best book in my extensive library. every one must read.

I got you on the boat. - Khawf

Amazing story. History is at times brutal. Love the characters and what they represent. Must listen. A story of love and survival.

Hope

The struggle and constant fear these characters experience never losing hope. It’s extraordinary. I found myself feeling their loss and uncertainty.

Tell me something good

This book taught me about the plight of the innocent people in Syria without taking away hope for the future. My understanding of the cruelty of powerful people has been expanded. It is a sin and a shame as my mother used to say. Let's all send hope and help to the people of Syria.

Incredible read

Eye opening and heart wrenching.
I would definitely encourage reading this. It gave me an even deeper compassion and understanding for the Syrian refugees

Heartbreaking and Hopeful

This was amazing, and horrifying and sad and lovely and hopeful. It was a beautifully written, rich with descriptions of a beautiful Syria that is torn apart by war. It was also such a hard read, because the people and their losses and lives and hopes all hit you right in the heart. But it is also so very worth it to read, to be a part of their lives for as long or as little as you can, because the people of Syria are worth it.

Beautiful and haunting

The story is truly heartbreaking but at the same time inspiring in the strength of the human spirit. The reading was done so well I found myself feeling every thought of the characters in the book. I hope this story reaches the people with power to end the atrocities.

Emotional, Beautiful Read

If you liked The Book Thief, you will love this novel about young adults navigating love, life, and trauma during the Syrian Revolution. There are many literary elements reminiscent of The Book Thief, but the narrative is faster paced. However, this did take me longer to read because there were times the story was so emotional, I had to take breaks. It is all too reflective of what we are still seeing happening in our world today. Katouni brilliantly employs characterization, nonlinear plot elements, and beautifully descriptive language to humanize the conflict that has been ongoing since 2011.

A favorite of the year

Within the first 15 pages I knew this book was going to be 5 stars. The author did SUCH a great job putting the reader into this main character's situation and really empathizing with her decision of whether to flee her home country or not. I could see the pros and cons to both choices and feel her agony over letting her family/and community down with either choice. I also thought the personification of her fear/grief/PTSD was a really interesting addition to the story sort of reminiscent of The Book Thief's narration from the perspective of death. Would highly recommend this book to fans of emotional historical fiction books who also want to learn a bit about Syrian culture!