The Next New Syrian Girl

Starred review from March 27, 2023
Via gorgeously written alternating first-person POVs, debut author Shukairy interweaves the differing cultural experiences of two Syrian teenagers—one in the U.S. and one in Syria—in this powerful debut. Syrian American high school senior Khadija Shaami recognizes her privilege as an affluent member of a predominantly Syrian Muslim Detroit community. Even so, she struggles to connect with her family, especially her socialite mother, who disparages Khadi for not being a “proper Syrian girl.” Worse, happy summers in Syria with extended family stopped after the civil war, and she’s been experiencing more frequent racism surrounding her hijab at school, making boxing at a local gym her only escape. Things at home become more complicated when high school senior Leene and her mother, both Syrian refugees, come to stay. During Leene’s journey to America, she experienced devastating losses and endured myriad traumatic experiences. Though her arrival in Khadi’s home initially causes tension, the girls eventually embark on a friendship that simultaneously buoys Khadi and grounds Leene. Both teens are presented as complex and dynamic protagonists, and while their individual challenges are perceivably vastly different in scope, Shukairy portrays each with sensitivity and understanding, making for an illuminating read that interrogates themes of war, trauma, and healing. Ages 12–up. Agent: Serene Hakim, Ayesha Pande Literary.

Starred review from March 1, 2023
Grades 9-12 *Starred Review* Khadija's teenage life is defined by a dual-identity crisis: she and her mother are constantly bickering about how a proper Syrian daughter should behave, because, for starters, they really shouldn't be boxers like Khadija. The squabbles intensify when Mama invites refugee and Syrian role model Leene Taher and her mother to stay with them as they get their bearings in Detroit. With Khadija's surgeon dad always working and her brother eerily absent, there was no one to buffer Mama's unabating criticisms--until, blessedly, the Tahers. For all of Leene's ""Syrianness"" that Khadija admires under the guise of jealousy, Leene's displaced status comes with enormous loss and horrific baggage. Although Khadija initially avoids her new housemates, a terrifying encounter and discovery pull Khadija and Leene closer together, forcing them to reexamine their assumptions about each other--and themselves. Alternating between the girls' points of view allows insight into the thoughts of two bold young women whose fears and even dreams intersect. It is pure joy witnessing their friendship bloom and even more joyous to see them pursue and create a sense of belonging for themselves. After all, ""Home is a place created from context, and without context, home is just a place."" Emotional, with respites of dry hilarity (plus an adorable halal romance), every page in Shukairy's debut exudes purpose.

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Starred review from January 1, 2023
When the lives of Syrian American Khadija and Syrian refugee Leene collide, an unlikely friendship pushes them to fight for their truths in this debut told in alternating first-person voices. Khadija is privileged, growing up in Detroit's upper-crust Syrian Muslim community. Beneath the perfect facade, her family life is broken. She finds her escape at the boxing gym with her crush, Younes, a Somali American boy, and dreams of traveling the world with her Tunisian American best friend, Nassima. When Khadija's mother decides to host refugees Leene and her mother, Khadija is not pleased at first. Meanwhile, Leene is just trying to hold herself together, still reeling from her traumatic experiences in Syria and during her journey to America. Though at first both are hesitant and prickly, Khadija and Leene eventually find themselves in a budding friendship, one that remains genuine and solid as both girls fight against inner demons and an unforgiving world. Khadija's experiences in the Syrian American community will ring true to those from similar upbringings. Her family problems and her feelings of being an outsider give dimension to her character, but those struggles pale in contrast to Leene's that are unfolding alongside them. The framing of Leene's story never feels exploitative, however, and Shukairy respectfully portrays the horrible realities faced by many refugees. She gives both girls a nuanced space and identity. A story of friendship and family that finds hope through heartbreak. (Fiction. 13-18)

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Starred review from December 15, 2023

Gr 9 Up-Between boxing and dreams of travel, Khadija has never been the "perfect Syrian daughter" her mother wants. On the outside, Leene seems to be like any other Syrian refugee adjusting to a new country, however, demons of her past haunt her constantly. When Leene and her mom are invited into Khadija's home, the teens become a collision of misconceptions and suspicion. But as Khadija uncovers Leene's painful past, the girls begin a journey that may show they have more in common than they realized. With a 2018 backdrop, Shukairy delivers a story of the ongoing conflict in Syria that is honest and complex, authentically not shying away from the reality of war. Told in the alternating viewpoints of Khadija and Leene, the novel explores what a country can symbolize for its people as the two teens beautifully show pride in their identity and love for their country. As an unforgettable connection grows between Khadija and Leene, a friendship blooms through challenges, loss, and hope. Khadija's halal romance is icing on the cake. A trigger warning may be needed for a suicide attempt. VERDICT A must-read story of two strong, young Muslim women, and a definite purchase for library shelves.-Emily Walker

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