For the teen grappling with what it means to honor their heritage while forging their own path, this novel beautifully explores identity and belonging.
A parent should reach for this book when their teen is struggling to balance cultural heritage with personal ambitions, or feels caught between two worlds. This dual-perspective novel introduces Khadija, a Syrian-American rock climber, and Leene, a recent Syrian refugee. Their worlds collide at school, sparking a complicated friendship that forces both to confront family expectations, trauma, faith, and what it means to belong. For ages 14-18, the book tackles serious themes like war trauma and Islamophobia with sensitivity and hope. It’s a powerful choice for fostering empathy and validating the complex experience of first-generation teens forging their own identity.
Features a sweet, developing romantic subplot with some kissing.
Sensitive Topics
The book deals directly with the trauma of the Syrian civil war, including discussion of bombings, loss of family members, and PTSD. This is handled realistically and with emotional depth. Islamophobia and racist microaggressions are also depicted directly within the school setting. The approach to healing is secular in its psychological framing but grounded in the characters' Muslim faith and cultural context. The resolution is hopeful but acknowledges that healing is a journey, not a destination.
Ideal Reader
A teen, 14 or older, from an immigrant family who feels caught between their heritage and American culture. It’s also an excellent choice for a teen seeking authentic, nuanced Muslim representation or one who is passionate about social justice and wants to better understand the refugee experience from a personal perspective.
Parent Prep
Parents should be prepared for conversations about war, grief, PTSD, and Islamophobia. The descriptions of Leene's past trauma are not graphic but are emotionally powerful. The book can be read cold, but having context about the Syrian civil war may deepen a reader's understanding. It’s a great book to read alongside your teen to open up these conversations. A parent hears their teen express frustration about feeling stereotyped at school, or says something like, "You don't get it, I feel like I have to be two different people." Or the teen is searching for books with characters who look and believe like they do.
Age Experience
A younger teen (14-15) might connect most with the high school dynamics: the friendship, the budding romance, and Khadija’s struggle for independence. An older teen (16-18) is more likely to appreciate the deeper nuances of Leene’s psychological trauma, the political undertones, and the complex exploration of diasporic identity.
What Makes It Special
Unlike many stories that focus on a single immigrant narrative, this book's dual POV masterfully contrasts the first-generation American experience with the recent refugee experience. It subverts the idea of a monolithic "Syrian girl" identity, showing a spectrum of experiences, beliefs, and challenges within the same culture.
Read plot summary
Told from dual perspectives, the story follows two Syrian teens in California. Khadija is a Syrian-American high school senior whose passion for competitive rock climbing clashes with her parents' more traditional expectations. Leene is a newly arrived refugee, grappling with the immense trauma of the war and the challenge of starting over. Pushed together by their families, they forge a fragile, then powerful, friendship that helps them navigate identity, faith, grief, and the pressures of being the "new Syrian girl."
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
The title is "The Next New Syrian Girl." How do both Khadija and Leene feel the pressure of this label throughout the book, and how do they each challenge it in their own way?
2
Khadija uses rock climbing to feel in control and empowered. What does the sport symbolize for her, especially in relation to her family's expectations and her identity?
3
Leene is hesitant to share the details of her past. Why was the scene where she finally confides in Khadija a turning point for their friendship and for Leene's own healing?
4
Both girls navigate different relationships with their faith. How does their connection to Islam shape their choices and their understanding of the world and themselves?
5
Compare and contrast Khadija's parents' expectations with Leene's aunt and uncle's. How do these family dynamics influence each girl's journey?
