Citation: Katouh, Z. (2022). As long as lemon trees grow. Brown Books for Young Readers.
Content Warning: death, sexual assault, descriptions of torture, violence against women and children, bombing, chemical warfare, shooting, blood/ gore.
Not much changed initially for Salama Kassab, when the Syrian civil war broke out. However, fast forward and she now volunteers at a hospital where she deals with daily devastations caused by the war and an imaginary being, Khawf, who is a manifestation of her own fear. Salama considers fleeing her country every day, but a new romance and loyalty to her country make her realize the power of revolutions.
Similar to the focus of freedom movements in Ahimsa, the book offers a glimpse of hope when faced with challenges that dominate many parts of our world today. Due to the contextual nature of the book, it is recommended for readers over the age of fourteen. Readers are also encouraged to source out additional non-fiction material to help supplement the well-written details of the story.