This is such a sweet story! I read it to my two youngest siblings last night, and while I was reading, several other family members gathered around to listen, too. A picture of hope in the middle of destruction, this book is a celebration of family, friendship, and literature. As a book lover, I appreciated the way books brought this community together and the way books helped them through a difficult time. The illustrations in this book were beautiful and bright, and I particularly enjoyed the notes at the end from the author and illustrator. Books like this are a great way to introduce children to other cultures and give them a bit of a glimpse into the trouble other children face at times (although done gently, this book does talk about bombed homes, lack of water, and food shortages). Highly recommended!

I was given a complimentary copy of this book, and this is my honest opinion of it. ( )

Gr 1–4—Damascus, once a city of blooming roses, cherries, and apricots, becomes destroyed by war in this
beautiful and poignant coming-of-age book. Children taking shelter with their families find hope and resilience that
shines through even the worst of situations.

The story of Nour and her cousin and best friend Amir, who build a secret library in a basement during the ongoing war in Syria. Pencil, gouache, and charcoal illustrations feature blues, red, oranges, and yellows.

Extensive back matter: About Syria (including map), Glossary, 8 Famous Libraries of the Middle East, The Real Secret Library, Culture and War, Author's Note, Illustrator's Note ( )

city being shelled; library created from cast off books; ( )

Wonderful story of perservering and preserving books in a war zone. Backmatter includes About Syria, Glossary, 8 Famous Libraries of the Middle East, The Real Secret Library, Culture and War, Author's Note, and Illustrator's Note. ( )