As long as there are lemon trees

A love letter to Syria and its people, As Long as There Are Lemon Trees is a novel set in the Syrian Revolution that burns with the fire of hope, love, and possibility .

Salama Kassab was a pharmacy student when the cries for freedom erupted in Syria. She still had her parents and older brother. She still had a home and a normal young life.

Now, Salama volunteers at a hospital in Homs, helping the wounded who arrive nonstop. Secretly, however, 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 the personification of her fear in the form of Khawf, an entity that accompanies her every move in an effort to keep her safe.

But even with Khawf pressing her to leave Syria, Salama is torn between loyalty to her country and the urge to survive. She will have to face bullets and bombs, military attacks, and her own sense of morality before she can finally breathe a sigh of freedom. And when her path crosses with Kenan—a boy she should have met on a very different occasion—Salama begins to question her decision to leave the country.

Before it's too late, Salama must learn to see the events around her for what they really are—not a war, but a revolution—and decide how to cry out for Syria's freedom.

“A poignant story about war, loss, family, and love, about finding grace in madness and hope in tragedy. As Long as There Are Lemon Trees is a phenomenal narrative, a penetrating look at the Syria that once was and the Syria that is today. An absolute must-read.” — Sabaa Tahir, author of An Ember in the Ashes and All My Wrath

“Katouh's lyrical prose, combined with a moving portrait of first love, unsparingly addresses the costs of revolution and the strength it takes to fight for one's beliefs.” — Publishers Weekly

"Katouh wrote this book to shed light on the hardships the Syrian people still face today, a decade after the revolution began, and in doing so, he created a luminous love story with a proud Muslim woman as its protagonist. [...] A must-read for young people and adults everywhere." — The Bookseller

"Harrowing moments are juxtaposed with achingly beautiful memories of peaceful times. Readers will appreciate the many exquisite sentences in this memorable novel, which honors the stories of countless Syrians." — Kirkus Reviews

"Katouh masterfully weaves many threads into a raw, nuanced, and deeply human story that will make you think, be captivated, and brace for impact. While There Are Lemon Trees should be at the top of your reading list." — YA Books Central