As Long As The Lemon Trees Grow

As Long As The Lemon Trees Grow is the stunning and heartbreaking debut novel by Zoulfa Katouh — the first book by a Syrian author to be published by Bloomsbury — and one of the most powerful young adult novels of recent years. Set against the devastating backdrop of the Syrian Revolution, it is a love letter to Syria and its people: a story of impossible choices, enduring courage, and the fragile, fierce bloom of love amidst catastrophe.

Salama Kassab was a pharmacy student when the revolution broke out. She still had her parents, her brother, her home — a normal life. Now she volunteers at a hospital in Homs, helping the endless flood of wounded who arrive every day. She knows she needs to escape — to get herself and her pregnant sister-in-law Layla out before it is too late. But who will help those left behind if she goes? So desperate is she that her mind has conjured a physical embodiment of her fear: Khawf, an imagined companion who haunts her every movement, pushing her towards survival. And then she meets Kenan — a boy with a camera and a determination to document the truth of what is happening, no matter the cost.

Told with lyrical, devastating beauty and raw emotional honesty, As Long As The Lemon Trees Grow was named an Amazon Best Book of the Month and praised by some of the biggest names in young adult fiction. It explores trauma, resistance, survivor's guilt, and the breathtaking power of hope with a clarity and depth that announces an extraordinary new voice in world literature. Perfect for readers aged 14 and above, and for anyone who has ever wondered what it means to stay — or what it costs to leave.

Product Details

Author: Zoulfa Katouh
Format: Paperback
Language: English
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN-13: 9781526648549
Dimensions: Approx. 20 × 13 × 3 cm
Weight: Approx. 0.35 kg
Delivery Time: 3–5 Business Days