As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh

• Fiction
• Young adult
• Literature
• Historical Fiction
• Fantasy

As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh is a powerful, lyrical debut novel that has captivated readers around the world with its unflinching yet hopeful portrayal of life amid war. Katouh, an author of Syrian descent, wrote a book that became the first by a Syrian author to be published by Bloomsbury Publishing and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, and it has since been translated into twenty-three languages. 

Set during the Syrian Revolution, the story follows eighteen-year-old Salama Kassab, a pharmacy student in Homs who is forced to work at a hospital treating the wounded after most doctors have been killed, arrested, or driven away. As she cares for her pregnant sister-in-law, Salama must confront the agonising choice between staying to help her country or fleeing to safety, all while guided by an imagined companion representing her deepest fears. The novel explores survival, guilt, love, faith, and trauma, honouring hope, memory, and the stubborn will to keep going even amid devastating loss. 

For readers in Bangladesh who appreciate powerful, emotionally resonant stories about resilience, displacement, and the human cost of conflict, As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow offers a deeply moving and important read. Its lyrical prose and unforgettable characters make it a standout in contemporary young adult and literary fiction.

If you're looking for a heartbreaking yet hopeful story that stays with you long after the final page, this novel is essential reading. Order your copy online today from Book Beavers and experience Salama's unforgettable journey.