There’s never a better time to start reading again – old, new, fiction, nonfiction. While there are many picks to get you back to reading to accompany your summer break, or get you interested in books (if you’re not a bookworm), there are several hidden gems in the world of Arab literature that are a must-read for all.

From tales centered around identity, to stories of life and loss, these novels challenge stereotypes and misconceptions, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of Arab culture and society. 

Here are some of the latest novels by Arab authors, great to read by a pool or on a plane this summer.

AS LONG AS THE LEMON TREES GROW BY ZOULFA KATOUH

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 Set in a mesmerizing backdrop of lemon groves, the novel follows the journey of Salama Kassab, a pharmacy student in war-torn Syria. In the midst of turmoil, Salama finds herself torn between her yearning for freedom and her deep-rooted connections to her homeland.

Zoulfa Katouh’s storytelling weaves a gripping narrative that delves into Salama’s internal conflicts. Should she follow her dreams and embrace a better life outside Syria’s borders, or should she stay and contribute to the revolution, fighting for her country’s future?

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RIFQA BY MOHAMMED EL KURD

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Rifqa is a thought-provoking poetry collection that weaves a compelling narrative centered around the life of the author’s late grandmother, Rifqa. Set in a complex and ever-changing landscape, Mohammed El Kurd takes readers on an emotional journey through loss and the pursuit of Palestinian identity.

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NO LAND TO LIGHT ON BY YARA ZGHEIB

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The novel centers around the story of Hadi and Sama, a young Syrian couple, as they go through the motions of living apart from each other while awaiting the birth of their son.

Yara Zgheib’s novel explores a love that yearns for a way back to each other while questioning whether life truly exists for the couple or is just an illusion.

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MOTHER OF STRANGERS BY SUAD AMIRY

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In Mother of Strangers, Suad Amiry masterfully presents a gripping and heartbreaking account of a pivotal moment in the history of the Middle East – the beginning of the end of Palestine – and a poignant portrayal of a city irreversibly transformed. In the cosmopolitan city of Jaffa, Palestine, from 1947 to 1951, the book follows two teenagers: Subhi, a fifteen-year-old mechanic, and Shams, a thirteen-year-old student whom Subhi dreams of marrying one day. 

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GHOST SEASON BY FATIN ABBAS

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Caught in the conflict at the Sudanese border, five characters of different backgrounds find themselves connected to solving one mystery: a burnt corpse that appears one morning in a remote border town between northern and southern Sudan. 

Through this book, Fatin Abbas, a Sudanese-American writer, addresses the nature of borders–national, ethnic, or religious.

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AGAINST THE LOVELESS WORLD BY SUSAN ABULHAWA

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Drawing on her roots, Susan Abulhawa tells the story of a young Palestinian refugee, Nahr, who attempts to find her path to love and a home, amidst searching for a better life for her family. However, she encounters many road bumps that make the journey — from Kuwait, Iraq, Jordan, and Palestine – seem almost impossible. Abulhawa’s prose is praised by The New York Times as “a beautiful, urgent novel of the Palestinian struggle.”

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SHUBEIK LUBEIK BY DEENA MOHAMED

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Shubeik Lubeik, Arabic for “Your wish is my command,” is a graphic novel that tells the story of three characters: Aziza, Nour, and Shokhry, as they navigate Cairo, where wishes are for sale. However, there’s a kicker: wishes have a stronger likelihood of coming true the more expensive they are. Egyptian graphic designer and author, Denna Mohamed, comments on the reality of Egypt’s socio-political status through this novel.

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BETWEEN TWO MOONS BY AISHA ABDEL GAWAD

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Aisha Abdel Gawad’s Between Two Moons is a coming-of-age story of two sisters during the course of one Ramadan. Set in a post 9/11 world, twin sisters, Amira and Lina, are about to graduate from high school and are eager to embark on a journey of self-discovery–but the political status resulting to ethnic and religious bias puts them in a difficult position. In the Muslim immigrant enclave of Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, this family tale revolves around identity, faith, and belonging. 

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WHAT STRANGE PARADISE BY OMAR EL AKKAD

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What Strange Paradise alternates between gentleness and harsh reality in its portrayal. Omar El Akkad contrasts the wonder of children with the dehumanization and neglect faced by refugees worldwide. A ship full of displaced people and refugees has sunk and many bodies have been washed up on the shores of a small island, among them is nine-year-old survivor Amir, a Syrian boy rescued by a teenage girl named Vanna. The two strangers find their way through a hostile world together.

Find more information here.