A Syrian American and Syrian refugee who are at odds must chase a haunting secret that leads them all the way to Jordan in this sharp-witted debut perfect for fans of I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter.
Khadija Shami is a Syrian American high school senior raised on boxing and football. Saddled with a monstrous ego and a fierce mother to test it, she dreams of escaping her sheltered life to travel the world with her best friend.
Leene Tahir is a Syrian refugee, doing her best to adjust to a new life while harboring a life-altering secret.
When their worlds collide the result is catastrophic. To Khadija, Leene embodies the tame, dutiful Syrian ideal she's long rebelled against. And to Leene, Khadija is the strong-willed, closed-off American who makes her doubt her place in the world.
But as Khadija digs up Leene's past, a heartbreaking secret and new discovry change everything. As the girls race to unravel the truth, a friendship slowly and hesitantly begins blooming. Doubts are cast aside as they realize they have more in common than they each expected. What they find takes them on a journey all the way to Jordan, changing the course of their lives as they know it.
Fans of Samira Ahmed's Love, Hate, and Other Filters and Tahereh Mafi's A Very Large Expanse Of Sea will love Khadija and Leene's sharp-witted voices in this dual POV narrative. The Next New Syrian Girl is a poignant and timely blend of guilt, nostalgia, devotion, and bad-ass hijabees.
| ISBN: | 9780316432757 |
| Publication date: | 17th October 2024 |
| Author: | Ream Shukairy |
| Publisher: | Little, Brown Young Readers an imprint of Little, Brown |
| Format: | Paperback |
| Pagination: | 416 pages |
| Genres: |
Children’s / Teenage fiction: General, modern and contemporary fiction Children’s / Teenage personal and social topics: Friends and friendships Adventure Stories Stories about Family and Friends Warfare & Battles PSHE: Family Issues |