A review by sams_fireside
As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh

adventurous challenging dark hopeful informative inspiring sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

"It reminds me that as long as the lemon trees grow, hope will never die".

I have seen this book reviewed many times over on Bookstagram and I love a story that educates and entertains me, and As Long As The Lemon Trees Grow, certainly did this.

I listened to it as an audiobook, read by Rasha Zamamiri and it was haunting. Whilst the majority of us are living free lives, enjoying vacations and being able to travel anywhere we want to, there is still a war continuing in Syria that has been going on for 13 years! I cannot even begin to imagine what that must be like to live through.

As Long As The Lemon Trees Grow is an absolutely incredible story with beautiful imagery, but it’s so sad. I’m sure the war in Syria is something that many people will be aware of, yet many won’t know to what extent it has affected and is affecting the people of that country. No one actually wants to leave all that they know and get on a boat to sail to who knows where. They do it because they have no choice if they want to stay alive.

Salama is our protagonist and an amazingly strong female character who is working hard to try to find a way for her and her pregnant sister-in-law to escape her beloved, yet war-torn country. Does she make it? You need to read it for yourself to find out.

As Long As The Lemon Trees Grow is classed as a YA book but is definitely a book which should be read by everyone, regardless of age.