We held our heads high and planted lemon trees in acts of defiance, praying that when they came for us, it'd be a bullet to the head.'

Revolusi ini yang menuntut reformasi demokratis, namun justru disambut dengan kekerasan polisi dan militer hingga terjadi penangkapan besar-besaran dan penembakan yang mengakibatkan ribuan orang tewas dan puluhan ribu lainnya terluka. Mulai dari titik inilah eskalasi kekerasan sistemis yang dilakukan Assad untuk mengeksekusi pihak manapun yang sekiranya menentang kepemerintahannya dimulai. One of my only criticisms of As Long As the Lemon Trees Grow is that it’s classified as a young-adult book. This, to me… is a tough sell as a YA book, and I would give an As Long As the Lemon Trees Grow age rating at 16+ at least. It has a lot of trigger warnings: death, war, graphic child murder, sexual assault, extremely dense PTSD, and psychological conversations. Maybe kids are just tougher these days than I was as a young adult, and I think it is essential for youth to be aware of what’s going on in the world, but it is pretty heavy for a YA book, in my opinion. Don’t focus on the darkness and sadness,” she says, and I glance up at her. She smiles warmly. “If you do, you won’t see the light even if it’s staring you in the face.” Set in war-torn Syria, As Long As The Lemon Trees Grow follows Salama’s inner battle between the desire to escape and the guilt of leaving her country behind. This heartbreaking novel explores the human beings affected by the war: their fear, love and hunger to change the world. Layla’s smile deepens and she pats my cheek. “You’re too adorable for your own good, Salama. One of these days someone will snatch you up and take you far away from me.”heartbreaking, gut wrenching, soul crushing. but undoubtedly one of the best books i have ever read. Bayangkan mimpi terburuk yang pernah kamu alami tetapi mimpi itu terjadi ketika kamu terjaga, setiap hari selama bertahun-tahun,” kata Hamza dikutip langsung dari laporan Human Devastation Syndrome:The Impact of Conflict on Mental Health Human Devastation Syndrome pada 2018. I’m speechless. It was absolutely amazing. I finally found a book that I could proudly recommend to everyone if they asked me for a book recommendation. This is this type of story which will stay with you for a long time, and I simply think that everyone should read it.

Sindrom Kehancuran Manusia sendiri adalah istilah yang diciptakan oleh ahli neuropsikologi medis Mohammad Khalid Hamza dari Syrian American Medical Society pada tahun 2016. Dilansir dari laporan khusus VOA tentang pengungsi Suriah, istilah ini dicetuskan oleh Hamza lantaran melihat dan meneliti bagaimana trauma yang dimiliki oleh korban konflik Suriah begitu besar hingga istilah PTSD pun tidak cukup menggambarkan trauma dan kerusakan mental yang dialami korban. Baca Juga: ‘Invisible Women’: Data Laki-laki yang Utama, Perempuan Nanti Saja Trauma yang Lebih Hebat dari PTSD I glue my eyes to the brown soup, listening to the hissing flames. Since not long after I moved in, Layla has been nagging me to talk to Am at the hospital. She’s heard the stories of Syrians finding safety in Germany. So have I. Some of my own patients have been able to secure passage across the Mediterranean Sea via Am. How he finds the boats I have no idea. But with money, anything is possible. Dalam memberikan pemahaman tentang apa yang sebenarnya terjadi di Suriah, Katouh tanpa segan membawa pembacanya untuk menyusuri sejarah Suriah. Ini dimulai pada Maret hingga Juli 2011. Bulan di mana Revolusi Suriah pertama kali meletus. Saat itu masyarakat Suriah tengah melakukan aksi protes kepada rezim pemerintah Assad yang telah berkuasa selama lebih dari dua dekade lamanya. Aksi ini menyusul aksi protes Kebangkitan Arab atau dikenal sebagai Arab Spring sebagai gelombang revolusi unjuk rasa dan protes yang terjadi di dunia Arab.Another thing that irked me was the medical stuff. I'm pretty sure the author is a pharmacist (just like Salama in this book), but, as a medical student, I've seen some concerning "doctor oopsies" that were hard for me to overlook. I'm not a fan of self-inserts in books usually, and this book was no exception. I feel like Salama's work and profession could've worked much better and been more realistic if her role was toned down slightly.

A love letter to Syria and its people, As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow is a speculative novel set amid the Syrian Revolution, burning with the fires of hope, love, and possibility. Perfect for fans of The Book Thief and Salt to the Sea. But Katouh did not do that. She illustrated her characters’ personalities in very practical and poignant ways. As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow as YA fiction?

About the contributors

The book is aimed at teenagers and delves into the trauma caused to civilians as a result of war (MEE/Nadda Osman) we don't have to stop living because we might die. anyone might die at any given moment, anywhere in the world. we're not an exception. we just see death more regularly than they do. Fear is a cruel thing. The way it distorts thoughts, transforming them from molehills into mountains.” This is my land, and just like the lemon trees that have been growing here for centuries, spilled blood won't stop us. I have God, he'll protect me. I've been force fed oppression but I will no longer swallow its bitter taste."