Reviews tagging 'Abandonment'

As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh

6 reviews

grace_muriithi's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Pro tip: have a box of tissues ready because I BAWLED MY EYES OUT reading this book for the people of Syria, whose story was humanized for me through this book (as I was unaware of the true extent of what is happening in the country). I cried knowing that there are similar things taking place right now in so many other parts of the world, some of which are better known than others. 
Palestine. 
Congo. 
Haiti. 
Tigray. 
Sudan. 
Those are just a few of the ones I know of off the top of my head. 
I felt guilty for knowing that all I can do is read, uplift their voices and donate. 
But also, I felt hope in reading this story. Hope is something that I never want to lose sight of, and dreaming of a better tomorrow and fighting for it is what all oppressed people deserve. Free all those that are victims of Western greed, exploitation and colonialism. This is a novel about the fight for liberation and its uglier sides, but most of all it encourages me to continue to resist and fight for what is right. 
5/5 stars, absolutely no notes. (Actually, PLEASE check trigger warnings before you read this book. It's a heavy read, but one that should be read in my opinion.) 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, Grief, Death, Death of parent, Medical trauma, Child death, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Abandonment, Torture, Islamophobia, and Sexual assault

ceallison91's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful informative sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Death, and War

Moderate: Torture

Minor: Rape and Sexual assault

amandalorianxo's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

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

5.0

Poignant. Tragic.Hopeful. A Syrian centered story while fictional has so much impact and I am thankful this book is out here for the world to experience. This is marketed as a young adult novel but it doesn’t feel like one with our characters voices feeling much older than 18 + 19 years of age. I was on edge throughout the last 25 % and this highlights not only the customs and ways of life but also the tremendous impact war, trauma and PTSD has on the lives of the innocent.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War

Moderate: Medical content, Medical trauma, Grief, Death, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Abandonment

lamatics's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Blood, Abandonment, Eating disorder, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Murder, Torture, Death of parent, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mass/school shootings, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Death, Genocide, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, War, Sexual harassment, and Violence

bookworm247's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Medical content, Pregnancy, War, and Mental illness

faduma's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical trauma, Murder, Violence, Medical content, Police brutality, Abandonment, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Blood, Body horror, Death, Death of parent, Eating disorder, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Child death, Sexual violence, and War