The Next New Syrian Girl, Ream Shukairy
The Next New Syrian Girl, Ream Shukairy
List: $27.99 | Sale: $19.59
Club: $13.99

The Next New Syrian Girl

Author: Ream Shukairy

Narrator: Victoria Nassif

Unabridged: 10 hr 50 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 03/14/2023


Synopsis

A Syrian American and Syrian refugee who are at odds must chase a haunting secret that leads them all the way to Jordan in this sharp-witted novel perfect for fans of I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter. 

Khadija Shami is a Syrian American high school senior raised on boxing and football. Saddled with a monstrous ego and a fierce mother to test it, she dreams of escaping her sheltered life to travel the world with her best friend.
 
Leene Tahir is a Syrian refugee, doing her best to adjust to the wildly unfamiliar society of a suburban Detroit high school while battling panic attacks and family pressures.
 
When their worlds collide the result is catastrophic. To Khadija, Leene embodies the tame, dutiful Syrian ideal she's long rebelled against. And to Leene, Khadija is the strong-willed, closed-off American who makes her doubt her place in the world.
 
But as Khadija digs up Leene’s past, a startling and life-changing discovery forces the two of them closer together. As the girls secretly race to unravel the truth, a friendship slowly and hesitantly begins blooming. Doubts are cast aside as they realize they have more in common than they each expected. What they find takes them on a journey all the way to Jordan, challenging what each knows about the other and herself. 
 
Fans of Samira Ahmed’s Love, Hate, and Other Filters and Tahereh Mafi’s A Very Large Expanse Of Sea will love Khadija and Leene’s sharp-witted voices in this dual POV narrative. The Next New Syrian Girl is a poignant and timely blend of guilt, nostalgia, devotion, and bad-ass hijabees.
 

Reviews

Goodreads review by Zoulfa

FIRST REVIEW FOR THIS BOOK EVER HELL YEAH! this was everything i ever wanted. ever. i have longed to read muslim girls who are proud of their identity and who they are and their hijab while also being human. not fitting in any box the world tries to stuff them in. this book has a halal love story, tw......more

a million stars for the characters and the plot, 4 stars for the writing that was at times a tiny bit hard to follow. but i wholly, completely, absolutely recommend this book. it was honestly a very, very good read.......more

If you want a book about identity and belonging this is for you. If you want a book about a beautiful and meaningful friendship this is for you. If you want real character growth this is for you. If you want a lovely halal romance this is for you. If you want a book that can make you smile and cry in on......more


Quotes

"The Next New Syrian Girl captures the importance of friendship and the complicated journey one undertakes in the present to reconcile both past and future. A heartfelt and multifaceted novel that sings of hope." —Laila Sabreen, author of You Truly Assumed

The Next New Syrian Girl finds empathy, light, and connections in a story that sheds insight into war, trauma, and loss. Khadija and Leene’s journey will stay with you long after the last page.”—Adiba Jaigirdar, award-winning author of Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating

"The Next New Syrian Girl is a powerful and (sadly) relevant story...a testament to the power of young girls to change the world when they stand with one another instead of competing like society wants them to. Unputdownable, heart-breaking, and heart-healing all at once."—Yamile Saied Méndez, Pura Belpré medalist author of FURIA, a Reese’s Book Club selection

The Next New Syrian Girl is an engrossing, crackling debut. Shukairy kept me tearing through the pages with masterfully executed twists, fraught family dynamics, and the blossoming friendship between Khadija and Leene. Heart-wrenching, heartwarming, and altogether healing.”—Allison Saft, New York Times bestselling author of A Far Wilder Magic