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Yara's Spring
Coming of age against all odds in the midst of the Arab Spring.
Growing up in Aleppo, Yara’s childhood has long been shadowed by the coming revolution. But when the Arab Spring finally arrives at Yara’s doorstep, it is worse than even her Nana imagined: sudden, violent, and deadly. When rescuers dig Yara out from under the rubble that was once her family’s home, she emerges to a changed world. Her parents and Nana are gone, and her brother, Saad, can’t speak—struck silent by everything he’s seen. Now, with her friend Shireen and Shireen’s charismatic brother, Ali, Yara must try to find a way to safety. With danger around every corner, Yara is pushed to her limits as she discovers how far she’ll go for her loved ones—and for a chance for freedom.
Inspired by Jamal Saeed’s own experiences in Syria.
Growing up in Aleppo, Yara’s childhood has long been shadowed by the coming revolution. But when the Arab Spring finally arrives at Yara’s doorstep, it is worse than even her Nana imagined: sudden, violent, and deadly. When rescuers dig Yara out from under the rubble that was once her family’s home, she emerges to a changed world. Her parents and Nana are gone, and her brother, Saad, can’t speak—struck silent by everything he’s seen. Now, with her friend Shireen and Shireen’s charismatic brother, Ali, Yara must try to find a way to safety. With danger around every corner, Yara is pushed to her limits as she discovers how far she’ll go for her loved ones—and for a chance for freedom.
Inspired by Jamal Saeed’s own experiences in Syria.
Unknown Binding
Published October 13, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
February 8, 2021
I think that the novel Yara's Spring by Jamal Saeed is a book to remember. While I was reading this novel it feels like I was inside the story, when I was reading it was like I was going through Yara's life. Altho I haven't experienced what Yara has been through, I still feel like I can connect with Yara, through feelings and thoughts. While I was reading I felt sorry for the characters when I was reading the book, I was sad that Saad wouldn't say anything, and that Shireen left to find her brother. I also love the author's writing style. It was easy to read and understand, and there was lots of detail in each paragraph.
I loved the plot, how Yara had to work to survive; how she lived through so many disasters but still got through. The plot was very thick, it shows how Yara reacts in many situations. There were many layers to it, and it made the book very engaging. It goes through many stages, and each one is as interesting as the other. The story flows, when I was reading Yara's Spring I always knew what was happening. Some parts of this book were like a knife going straight through my heart because of how sad it was, or how much I wanted to help Yara and her family/friends.
Yara's Spring was a real eye-opener for me, mostly everything in Yara's Spring happened in real life. Yara's Spring opened my eyes to the truth of this world. Not everybody lives like me, it made me think of what people in under-developed countries live like; compared to those people I live a very privileged life. I never thought about how people live in those countries, reading this book made me realise that not everybody gets to live in first-world countries. Altho Yara lived in a third-world country she was happy. She never thought of what her life could be like and only lived in the moment. I respect her for that.
Yara's Spring was very interesting, I loved how the author(s) used imagery. For example on page 224, it says " The air was as thin as an eggshell. The distant mountains shone azure blue, and the valley below was layered in clouds, each layer a different color: scarlet, rose, pink, and a shocking orange that set the world aglow. Below, as far as the eye could see, were yellow plains of wheat and green groves of grapes and olives." This small paragraph of imagery was very informative. It helped me imagine how high up they were and how the surrounding landscape looked like. I also like Yara's character development. At the beginning of the novel, she starts as a girl who is pure and happy. She's not very mature but Yara is a bright bundle of joy, and as we go through the book she starts to mature more. She starts to understand how life is, and she faces reality. she loses her bubbly personality, and she acts more mature.
In conclusion, Yara struggled to get to the refugee camp, but in the end, she made it. I was really happy when she did, she deserved to be free. I loved everything about this novel, and I hope you enjoyed this review.
I loved the plot, how Yara had to work to survive; how she lived through so many disasters but still got through. The plot was very thick, it shows how Yara reacts in many situations. There were many layers to it, and it made the book very engaging. It goes through many stages, and each one is as interesting as the other. The story flows, when I was reading Yara's Spring I always knew what was happening. Some parts of this book were like a knife going straight through my heart because of how sad it was, or how much I wanted to help Yara and her family/friends.
Yara's Spring was a real eye-opener for me, mostly everything in Yara's Spring happened in real life. Yara's Spring opened my eyes to the truth of this world. Not everybody lives like me, it made me think of what people in under-developed countries live like; compared to those people I live a very privileged life. I never thought about how people live in those countries, reading this book made me realise that not everybody gets to live in first-world countries. Altho Yara lived in a third-world country she was happy. She never thought of what her life could be like and only lived in the moment. I respect her for that.
Yara's Spring was very interesting, I loved how the author(s) used imagery. For example on page 224, it says " The air was as thin as an eggshell. The distant mountains shone azure blue, and the valley below was layered in clouds, each layer a different color: scarlet, rose, pink, and a shocking orange that set the world aglow. Below, as far as the eye could see, were yellow plains of wheat and green groves of grapes and olives." This small paragraph of imagery was very informative. It helped me imagine how high up they were and how the surrounding landscape looked like. I also like Yara's character development. At the beginning of the novel, she starts as a girl who is pure and happy. She's not very mature but Yara is a bright bundle of joy, and as we go through the book she starts to mature more. She starts to understand how life is, and she faces reality. she loses her bubbly personality, and she acts more mature.
In conclusion, Yara struggled to get to the refugee camp, but in the end, she made it. I was really happy when she did, she deserved to be free. I loved everything about this novel, and I hope you enjoyed this review.
February 7, 2021
This is a remarkable book. The reader is immediately drawn into Yara’s life and family and is on edge as the terrifying journey progresses. I could not put this down. What a loving depiction of a country in crisis. The beauty of Syria comes through loud and clear. Can’t wait to share this with students!
April 13, 2021
This book. I want every kid in my school to read this book. Saeed has managed to write about something horrific and tragic in a way that is 100% impactful to kids, accessible without minimizing Yara’s experience. There are Syrian refugees all over Canada - yes, in my rural Ontario school too - and I think it’s so important for kids to have a window into their experiences.
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March 11, 2021Recently I have gotten the opportunity to read the novel Yara’s spring. Not only did I personally relate to the characters, but I also got a better understanding of what lives are like in third-world countries. While reading this book, I felt numerous emotions at once. Excitement, sadness, and enjoyment. Even though I had never experienced the tragedy of war, I was able to connect to other aspects, like the loss of a loved one.
Yara's spring starts and ends in a refugee camp in Jordan. The rest of the novel is Yara's journey of how she got there. A happy girl's home went from a nurturing, safe environment to a dangerous, threatening shelter. With the numerous uprisings in the middle east, it wasn't surprising when the conflict moved to Aleppo. Eventually, Yara, her grandmother, and some others had no choice but to flee Aleppo to find a safer refuge. "You see? We are being bombed out of existence - forever! It is not enough to take our lives. they want the lives of our ancestors." (Saeed 121). Escaping from Aleppo would not just mean leaving their home but also abandoning all their memories. However, they arrive at a safer place, and the novel ends with the hope of a better future.
Throughout the novel, I noticed many great writing techniques like foreshadowing and imagery. Both techniques grabbed my attention since they allow you to infer the following events and help the reader visualize the text better. When reading, I have noticed without descriptive writing, books become dull and less entertaining. Thankfully, this particular book does not have that issue.
One aspect I loved about Yara's spring was the accuracy. Even though the book was fiction, it had a lot of informative and accurate details. For instance, the book perfectly described the corrupted nature of Syria at its time of war on numerous occasions, "There are live wires everywhere... The balconies and even the walls of the apartment building behind their home had been cut away, sliced as if by a giant knife. Rooms were exposed; television sets and computers, even a vacuum cleaner, hung by cords. Sparkling, crackling, and dancing wires dangled above her like headless snakes." (Saeed 56). This quote and many similar ones made me realize how other people might be living in countries like Palestine, Egypt, and Iraq. Individuals can need reminders from time to time about the privileges they possess. This book accomplishes that by demonstrating the difficulties faced by war victims and how difficult their lives are in comparison to ours.
In my opinion, this book is very emotional. During certain times it is very heartbreaking, and in others, it is very inspirational. Not only was I immediately drawn to the character, Yara, but I also couldn't stop reading. While reading, it made me very sad how the book is based on true events. How young kids in real life have to deal with these unbearable experiences. And instead of worrying about school, they have to worry about surviving.
In conclusion, this novel was one of my favorites. I recommend it to anyone who likes to read about uprisings and the journies to safety. I believe the target audience for this book is 12 and older since it can be very emotional at times and has disturbing events throughout the plot. I hope you liked my review of Yara's spring, and it encouraged you to read it.
Yara's spring starts and ends in a refugee camp in Jordan. The rest of the novel is Yara's journey of how she got there. A happy girl's home went from a nurturing, safe environment to a dangerous, threatening shelter. With the numerous uprisings in the middle east, it wasn't surprising when the conflict moved to Aleppo. Eventually, Yara, her grandmother, and some others had no choice but to flee Aleppo to find a safer refuge. "You see? We are being bombed out of existence - forever! It is not enough to take our lives. they want the lives of our ancestors." (Saeed 121). Escaping from Aleppo would not just mean leaving their home but also abandoning all their memories. However, they arrive at a safer place, and the novel ends with the hope of a better future.
Throughout the novel, I noticed many great writing techniques like foreshadowing and imagery. Both techniques grabbed my attention since they allow you to infer the following events and help the reader visualize the text better. When reading, I have noticed without descriptive writing, books become dull and less entertaining. Thankfully, this particular book does not have that issue.
One aspect I loved about Yara's spring was the accuracy. Even though the book was fiction, it had a lot of informative and accurate details. For instance, the book perfectly described the corrupted nature of Syria at its time of war on numerous occasions, "There are live wires everywhere... The balconies and even the walls of the apartment building behind their home had been cut away, sliced as if by a giant knife. Rooms were exposed; television sets and computers, even a vacuum cleaner, hung by cords. Sparkling, crackling, and dancing wires dangled above her like headless snakes." (Saeed 56). This quote and many similar ones made me realize how other people might be living in countries like Palestine, Egypt, and Iraq. Individuals can need reminders from time to time about the privileges they possess. This book accomplishes that by demonstrating the difficulties faced by war victims and how difficult their lives are in comparison to ours.
In my opinion, this book is very emotional. During certain times it is very heartbreaking, and in others, it is very inspirational. Not only was I immediately drawn to the character, Yara, but I also couldn't stop reading. While reading, it made me very sad how the book is based on true events. How young kids in real life have to deal with these unbearable experiences. And instead of worrying about school, they have to worry about surviving.
In conclusion, this novel was one of my favorites. I recommend it to anyone who likes to read about uprisings and the journies to safety. I believe the target audience for this book is 12 and older since it can be very emotional at times and has disturbing events throughout the plot. I hope you liked my review of Yara's spring, and it encouraged you to read it.
March 13, 2021
This was a fast-paced, easy-to-read, yet powerful book about a girl struggling to escape Syria. The book is for younger readers, so while I could have used a bit more detail, especially in the second half of the book, I feel that it is a 5 star read for older children. It really breaks my heart that children go through experiences like this anywhere in the world. And it is important for us to learn what is going on so that we can help and also have compassion for refugees arriving in our country.
May 29, 2021
This was a wonderful book! There are so many books focused on WWII, but this takes the reader inside war torn Syria, which is very recent and still ongoing. The characters are "walking on eggshells" for the entire story. The reader can get a sense of what life must be like there. It is definitely a book I would read again.
December 27, 2020
Yara was 10 years old when the Arab Spring spread like wildfire throughout the Middle East. Even in her homeland of Syria, people dared to talk about a free Syria where Syrians could determine their own future. One year later, civil war broke out. Within 3 years, the city of Aleppo, where Yara lived, would mostly be reduced to rubble, her home destroyed, and her parents dead from frequent bombings by government forces to stop the rebellion. What follows in the tale of Yara, her nana, her brother and two neighbor children making their way across Syria to get to Jordan and away from the fighting and madness that has engulfed her nation.
While this is a fictional account, parts of the story are based on the author's observations, himself having fled Syria during this time. It humanizes the chaos that is happening over there and puts a human face on the innocents who are suffering not just under the regime of al-Assad but also from the many gangs and fighting forces that are fighting for control over parts of Syria.
While this is a fictional account, parts of the story are based on the author's observations, himself having fled Syria during this time. It humanizes the chaos that is happening over there and puts a human face on the innocents who are suffering not just under the regime of al-Assad but also from the many gangs and fighting forces that are fighting for control over parts of Syria.
February 27, 2024
Author Saeed (with help from co-author McKay) gives young readers a powerful portrayal of refugees during dangerous times in Syria in 2011-2016, under President Bashar al-Assad (pres 2000-now). It is apparently unfortunately similar to the dangerous times under the previous president, Hafiz al-Assad (pres 1970-2000), who was similarly ruthless, and who was in power when the author was growing up there. Historical information is not covered in the story, and only briefly summarized in the end-note.
Yara (age 10) has an idyllic life in Aleppo in 2011 with friends and neighbors coming to her parents' bakery, playing with her little brother, attending dance class with her best friend Shireen (age 11), and smiling shyly at Shireen's twin brother Ali. When her uncle Sami brings news from Damascus that the Arab Spring protests are coming to Syria accompanied by a violent government crackdown, and tries to press the case for joining the rebel movement for democracy, his mother (Yara's grandmother Nana) will have nothing of it and comes across as a traditionalist, more interested in demonstrating her faith in Allah, old gender roles, and family traditions.
However, when an irrational bombing raid destroys Yara's home, killing her parents, Yara and her infant brother Saad take refuge with Shireen's family, while Nana is hospitalized. When Nana finally reappears, she reveals that their family has been planning to leave the area (leave Syria or just leave Aleppo is not clear), and in fact Nana has been hiding her own thoughts and feelings since 1982, when Ba'ath Party soldiers executed 3 of her 4 sons and her husband - along with every male in their small town. Since then, she has been secretive and upset by any intimation that someone might be critical of the government.
Although readers will know from the first chapter that Yara makes it to the refugee camp, nothing else is certain. From the first explosion to their arrival at the Jordanian border, there is one after another close call and narrow escape. Bombs, rebels, soldiers, mercenaries, thieves, informants, not to mention shortages of water and food, intense heat, and unreliable vehicles - all of these are interrupted by the blessed relief of good neighbors, family networks, and religious organizations providing refuge and temporary safety. Each time the travelers (Yara, Saad, Nana, Shireen, & Ali) leave one spot of safety to continue their journey, it seems as if they have only had a few hours of respite, followed by painfully long, tense hours of journeying.
The breathless writing authentically emphasizes the danger and desperation of the situation. Everything we have seen in the news about Aleppo and Syria in general tells this story, only in this case, readers can feel the hour-by-hour experience through the observations of a young person.
I do think that the ending did not do justice to the child reader, who would want to hear what happened next - when Yara reached Canada. On the other hand, Yara's experience seemed significantly different from the author's own experience - Jamal Saeed and his entire family were targeted because he spoke up for democracy. To reflect this, I wish either Uncle Sami or Ali (in the book) had been patterned after Saeed's actual life - at least the rough sketch that is in the author's note. For example, if Uncle Sami had sent word that he made it safely to Dubai (as Saeed did) and then later to Canada, it seems like that would have reflected the author's own experience AND given a young reader what they need to hope for the best outcome.
Maybe it's only *me* who needs that little sliver of hope for Yara - I had a hard time reading this book.
Nevertheless, despite minor flaws (a breathless car-chase-like timeline that also took years, and writing that sometimes felt repetitive and maudlin), conveying the overall setting of time and place in Syria under the al-Assad regime is tremendously important for readers around the world to witness. It seems to me the author - a Syrian-Canadian father with direct experience of these situations - has written with sensitivity for young readers to understand well enough what happens to refugees during civil wars or any bombardment, and how it feels to a young person caught up and trying to survive.
Meanwhile, I must add; I read this over several weeks, bit by bit, as I also listened to the news of the Israeli bombardment of Gaza. The novel became a universal story for me - I could see parallels between the Hamas attack(s) and the Syrian armed militia/rebels/thieves - it doesn't matter to a child if the people with guns are fighting for a righteous cause when they have killed your family, or have made your neighborhood the target of a government bombing raid. And what sort of government uses indiscriminate bombing to uproot their enemies? Only a brutal fascist government.
So, reading about Syrian while hearing today's news of Israel, I am angry at my government for sending weapons anywhere, weapons used to bomb innocent civilians, destroy hospitals and murder people in their own homes. I am heartsick about today, and knowing Syria has been under this sort of brutalism for generations - I don't know how humanity allows this!
Yara (age 10) has an idyllic life in Aleppo in 2011 with friends and neighbors coming to her parents' bakery, playing with her little brother, attending dance class with her best friend Shireen (age 11), and smiling shyly at Shireen's twin brother Ali. When her uncle Sami brings news from Damascus that the Arab Spring protests are coming to Syria accompanied by a violent government crackdown, and tries to press the case for joining the rebel movement for democracy, his mother (Yara's grandmother Nana) will have nothing of it and comes across as a traditionalist, more interested in demonstrating her faith in Allah, old gender roles, and family traditions.
However, when an irrational bombing raid destroys Yara's home, killing her parents, Yara and her infant brother Saad take refuge with Shireen's family, while Nana is hospitalized. When Nana finally reappears, she reveals that their family has been planning to leave the area (leave Syria or just leave Aleppo is not clear), and in fact Nana has been hiding her own thoughts and feelings since 1982, when Ba'ath Party soldiers executed 3 of her 4 sons and her husband - along with every male in their small town. Since then, she has been secretive and upset by any intimation that someone might be critical of the government.
Although readers will know from the first chapter that Yara makes it to the refugee camp, nothing else is certain. From the first explosion to their arrival at the Jordanian border, there is one after another close call and narrow escape. Bombs, rebels, soldiers, mercenaries, thieves, informants, not to mention shortages of water and food, intense heat, and unreliable vehicles - all of these are interrupted by the blessed relief of good neighbors, family networks, and religious organizations providing refuge and temporary safety. Each time the travelers (Yara, Saad, Nana, Shireen, & Ali) leave one spot of safety to continue their journey, it seems as if they have only had a few hours of respite, followed by painfully long, tense hours of journeying.
The breathless writing authentically emphasizes the danger and desperation of the situation. Everything we have seen in the news about Aleppo and Syria in general tells this story, only in this case, readers can feel the hour-by-hour experience through the observations of a young person.
I do think that the ending did not do justice to the child reader, who would want to hear what happened next - when Yara reached Canada. On the other hand, Yara's experience seemed significantly different from the author's own experience - Jamal Saeed and his entire family were targeted because he spoke up for democracy. To reflect this, I wish either Uncle Sami or Ali (in the book) had been patterned after Saeed's actual life - at least the rough sketch that is in the author's note. For example, if Uncle Sami had sent word that he made it safely to Dubai (as Saeed did) and then later to Canada, it seems like that would have reflected the author's own experience AND given a young reader what they need to hope for the best outcome.
Maybe it's only *me* who needs that little sliver of hope for Yara - I had a hard time reading this book.
Nevertheless, despite minor flaws (a breathless car-chase-like timeline that also took years, and writing that sometimes felt repetitive and maudlin), conveying the overall setting of time and place in Syria under the al-Assad regime is tremendously important for readers around the world to witness. It seems to me the author - a Syrian-Canadian father with direct experience of these situations - has written with sensitivity for young readers to understand well enough what happens to refugees during civil wars or any bombardment, and how it feels to a young person caught up and trying to survive.
Meanwhile, I must add; I read this over several weeks, bit by bit, as I also listened to the news of the Israeli bombardment of Gaza. The novel became a universal story for me - I could see parallels between the Hamas attack(s) and the Syrian armed militia/rebels/thieves - it doesn't matter to a child if the people with guns are fighting for a righteous cause when they have killed your family, or have made your neighborhood the target of a government bombing raid. And what sort of government uses indiscriminate bombing to uproot their enemies? Only a brutal fascist government.
So, reading about Syrian while hearing today's news of Israel, I am angry at my government for sending weapons anywhere, weapons used to bomb innocent civilians, destroy hospitals and murder people in their own homes. I am heartsick about today, and knowing Syria has been under this sort of brutalism for generations - I don't know how humanity allows this!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 14, 2020
Heartbreaking and filled with hope. Yara’s Spring is the story of a girl from the start of the Arab Spring and the resulting civil War in Syria.
This story means a lot to me as a 3rd generation born part-Syrian woman. I have watched from afar as the history and culture of a people are threatened by a government and other self interested groups while the people merely survive.
While my maternal great grandparents immigrated to the US in the early 1900’s, the past several years my family and I have reconnected with our heritage to better understand ourselves and the happenings of modern day Syria. My heart aches for a country I have not lived in, but find my past in. Stories like Yara’s spring remind us all that we are not as far away as we think from these modern day tragedies.
A story that I will think on for a long time.
This story means a lot to me as a 3rd generation born part-Syrian woman. I have watched from afar as the history and culture of a people are threatened by a government and other self interested groups while the people merely survive.
While my maternal great grandparents immigrated to the US in the early 1900’s, the past several years my family and I have reconnected with our heritage to better understand ourselves and the happenings of modern day Syria. My heart aches for a country I have not lived in, but find my past in. Stories like Yara’s spring remind us all that we are not as far away as we think from these modern day tragedies.
A story that I will think on for a long time.
October 4, 2020
I had the opportunity to read the manuscript before publication, and I must say that this is both an important subject and a great read. The team of Sharon McKay and Jamal Saeed made sure of that. Sharon is a wonderful and experienced writer who knows how to tell a tale and Jamal - he is a man with tons of creativity and the background in Syria to make sure that the story, although fiction, is based on the reality that is happening on the ground right now. Empathy is the only way this world will survive, and both the children and adults who read Yara’s Spring will come away with more understanding of what millions of children are going through right this minute. This will be great for schools, libraries and children’s personal collections.
-Lory S. Kaufman, author of The Verona Trilogy
-Lory S. Kaufman, author of The Verona Trilogy
October 24, 2020
This is brilliant. Set in Syria (and nominally also a Jordanian refugee camp) against the backdrop of the Syrian War, this is like a fictional version of Homes by Abu Bakr al Rabeeah (Canada Reads 2019 runner-up)... right down to the family owning and operating a bakery.
This little book takes no prisoners, holds back nothing, and features a spunky young female protagonist - Yara - who is the epitome of a real warrior. The story begins in Aleppo in 2011, when Yara is only 10 years old and ends in 2016 when she is 15 years old… with most of the action taking place when she is 13 and 14.
Realistic characters living through the horrors of a long-raging civil war. The authors bring the contemporary experience of Syria to life, holding nothing back while never crossing the line into sensationalism. Written from the heart, your heart will break - more than once - as you read.
This little book takes no prisoners, holds back nothing, and features a spunky young female protagonist - Yara - who is the epitome of a real warrior. The story begins in Aleppo in 2011, when Yara is only 10 years old and ends in 2016 when she is 15 years old… with most of the action taking place when she is 13 and 14.
Realistic characters living through the horrors of a long-raging civil war. The authors bring the contemporary experience of Syria to life, holding nothing back while never crossing the line into sensationalism. Written from the heart, your heart will break - more than once - as you read.
July 31, 2020
I received this e-ARC from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book follows Yara as her family struggles through the civil war in Syria. Her parents bakery continues to support many neighbors until a bombing takes their lives and their livelihood. Yara, her little brother Saad, and her grandmother embark on a journey with her best friend Shireen and her brother Ali to find their way to Yara’s uncle in Damascus with the hopes of escaping Syria to Jordan.
This book was far from an easy read. Though fiction, Yara’s journey reflects much of the conflict, struggle and trauma so many Syrians have seen. The story is heartbreaking, but an important one and very worth the read.
This book follows Yara as her family struggles through the civil war in Syria. Her parents bakery continues to support many neighbors until a bombing takes their lives and their livelihood. Yara, her little brother Saad, and her grandmother embark on a journey with her best friend Shireen and her brother Ali to find their way to Yara’s uncle in Damascus with the hopes of escaping Syria to Jordan.
This book was far from an easy read. Though fiction, Yara’s journey reflects much of the conflict, struggle and trauma so many Syrians have seen. The story is heartbreaking, but an important one and very worth the read.
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September 15, 2020Whew - this is an intense YA read. The age group is nominally 10-14 and that makes sense due to the age of the characters but it could be a tough one for a sheltered 10 year old. That being said, the events in the book have happened and are happening to real 10 year olds and that makes it all the more heartbreaking. Anyway - the novel tells the story of Yara, from Aleppo, Syria, who's family is torn apart by the events of the Arab spring and the regime's horrific reaction to it. One of the authors, Jamal Saeed, was a prisoner of consciousness in Syria so he knows of what he writes. While Yara's story is tragic, it is also a coming-of-age story with the normal love and friendship situations - just intensified.
August 12, 2020
Heartbreaking and uplifting at times. The struggle of Yara and her family is written on every page, and although it is a story, it is clear this story could be true for many of the children and families in Syria. Middle Eastern events are often not a part of children's literature. There are more stories that are being told, and with authors to bring those unheard stories to life, not only enriches the lives of children for whom this story is not a window but a mirror, it also allows our comfortable Western children see the struggles and joys others experience around the world.
This would make a good book for discussion at school or library book groups.
This would make a good book for discussion at school or library book groups.
November 16, 2020
I feel so bad for the folks around the world living in war torn countries and refugee camps. Every time I see the bombed out ruins ion the news, I think of the people who were in them and wonder if they survived or not. This is a heartrending tale of one family and their escape to begin a new life. It can be a difficult read at times, but well worth reading. It is fictional, but could very well have been a nonfiction as events are very much possible and likely experienced by many. Sad.
I received a Kindle arc from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.
I received a Kindle arc from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.
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March 11, 2021 Jamal Saeed's novel Yara's Spring left an indelible impression on me. I felt like I was in another world when reading the novel. I felt as if I were living Yara's life. Yara has been through a lot in her life, and while I will never be able to compare my life to hers, I believe I can still communicate with her through words. The author's writing style was also appealing to me. He wrote very clear and easy-to-read paragraphs.
I thought the plot of the novel was incredible. Yara likely found it difficult to cope with the war, and the fact that she had to work to support her family and herself at the age of ten was selfless. The book was a roller coaster of emotions for me. There were moments when the characters were hopeful and times when they were not. Since the text flows and is well-organised, I was able to predict what would happen next. Even though I didn't have any personal connections, the author made it possible to relate through words. I liked how the author used various literary devices to draw the reader's attention to his paragraphs. For example, the author used an Idiom to show how much Yara's father loved his family, "I will keep you safe, daughter. You and your mother are my heart." (Saeed, 27). This quote is an excellent example of how the author portrays Yara's father's love for his family, but in a unique way that keeps the reader thinking.
Yara's Spring showed me a side of the world that the media avoids and what people go through daily that is unthinkable. Although Yara’s Spring is fiction, I loved the accuracy of the novel. It portrays a perfect example of how third world countries are, like Syria. In comparison to people in third-world countries like Yara, I am incredibly fortunate. Yara finds ways to be happy despite living in a third-world country with little access to her basic needs, one of her best qualities. She is a true inspiration to me. I also realised that Yara's character development was an essential part of the novel. At the start of Yara's Spring, Yara was really happy and pure. Yara learned that the real world functions differently than she expected. Throughout the book, Yara realised that the real world works differently than she imagined, and her maturity shone through.
In conclusion, this is an outstanding novel. The reader is quickly drawn into Yara's life and family, and the frightening journey keeps the reader on edge. This novel was impossible for me to put down—what a loving portrayal of a country in crisis. Syria's beauty shines through loud and straightforward.
I thought the plot of the novel was incredible. Yara likely found it difficult to cope with the war, and the fact that she had to work to support her family and herself at the age of ten was selfless. The book was a roller coaster of emotions for me. There were moments when the characters were hopeful and times when they were not. Since the text flows and is well-organised, I was able to predict what would happen next. Even though I didn't have any personal connections, the author made it possible to relate through words. I liked how the author used various literary devices to draw the reader's attention to his paragraphs. For example, the author used an Idiom to show how much Yara's father loved his family, "I will keep you safe, daughter. You and your mother are my heart." (Saeed, 27). This quote is an excellent example of how the author portrays Yara's father's love for his family, but in a unique way that keeps the reader thinking.
Yara's Spring showed me a side of the world that the media avoids and what people go through daily that is unthinkable. Although Yara’s Spring is fiction, I loved the accuracy of the novel. It portrays a perfect example of how third world countries are, like Syria. In comparison to people in third-world countries like Yara, I am incredibly fortunate. Yara finds ways to be happy despite living in a third-world country with little access to her basic needs, one of her best qualities. She is a true inspiration to me. I also realised that Yara's character development was an essential part of the novel. At the start of Yara's Spring, Yara was really happy and pure. Yara learned that the real world functions differently than she expected. Throughout the book, Yara realised that the real world works differently than she imagined, and her maturity shone through.
In conclusion, this is an outstanding novel. The reader is quickly drawn into Yara's life and family, and the frightening journey keeps the reader on edge. This novel was impossible for me to put down—what a loving portrayal of a country in crisis. Syria's beauty shines through loud and straightforward.
April 27, 2021
Ten-year-old Yara loves her life in Aleppo where, after running errands for her family’s bakery, she spends her time with her friends and loving parents. Not long after her eleventh birthday, her brother Saad is born. But something much bigger is looming on the horizon, as well. Slowly, the walls of her beloved city begin to close in as bombs and guns fill the space where music and laughter once lived. One day, a specifically placed projectile smashes into Yara’s life, launching her onto a path she could never have imagined.
In the midst of the horrors of war, love somehow finds a way to shine through. This beautifully crafted story blends uncertainty, horror, and anguish with the budding of young romance and familial affection that spans generations. Though Syria is being ripped apart from within, it manages to retain many of the warmer features that define this country through the hearts of its people.
Created by a survivor of Syrian conflict, this fictionalized story encapsulates many true events from the author’s life as well as those experienced by others. Yara’s family faces unspeakable horrors, and every moment is felt by readers. Heartbreak and healing entwine even in the most challenging situations, and readers are compelled to continue reading to learn the outcome of Yara’s journey.
Broken into segments, this story is bookended by Yara in a refugee camp in Jordan with the middle chronicling important events that led her there. A map at the beginning orients readers to Syrian geography and black-and-white illustrations provide visual context at each shift in the timeline.
Advanced middle grade and older readers alike will not forget this profound tale. Long after they close the final cover, readers will remember moments from Yara’s life and find a sense of empathy with those having suffered similar atrocities. This important story brings a true event into the minds of readers around the world, building connection and support to the warriors of Syria in the Arab Spring. It is a critical addition to libraries for mature readers of all ages.
In the midst of the horrors of war, love somehow finds a way to shine through. This beautifully crafted story blends uncertainty, horror, and anguish with the budding of young romance and familial affection that spans generations. Though Syria is being ripped apart from within, it manages to retain many of the warmer features that define this country through the hearts of its people.
Created by a survivor of Syrian conflict, this fictionalized story encapsulates many true events from the author’s life as well as those experienced by others. Yara’s family faces unspeakable horrors, and every moment is felt by readers. Heartbreak and healing entwine even in the most challenging situations, and readers are compelled to continue reading to learn the outcome of Yara’s journey.
Broken into segments, this story is bookended by Yara in a refugee camp in Jordan with the middle chronicling important events that led her there. A map at the beginning orients readers to Syrian geography and black-and-white illustrations provide visual context at each shift in the timeline.
Advanced middle grade and older readers alike will not forget this profound tale. Long after they close the final cover, readers will remember moments from Yara’s life and find a sense of empathy with those having suffered similar atrocities. This important story brings a true event into the minds of readers around the world, building connection and support to the warriors of Syria in the Arab Spring. It is a critical addition to libraries for mature readers of all ages.
February 23, 2023
This book is beautiful and heartbreaking. It is geared towards children, though I would say it's maybe too much for anyone younger than 12 or 13. I loved the characters and seeing how much they cared for each other and loved their country. They brought a vivacity, a realism to a situation that I've only heard about through the news, or social media. Even though the characters are fictional, the things that happen in the book are very real, and I think this a great introduction for kids and teens (and really adults like me) to understand what is happening in Syria from a human perspective.
As far as the writing and characters... I just love all of it! Without giving anything away, I loved the juxtaposition of Shireen's sense of duty to her home country, Ali's wanting to fight but being in that awkward age between not still a boy but not yet a man, and Yara's need to simply survive along with her family. This makes for a bittersweet and even somewhat inconclusive ending that is realistic but still gives the reader a modicum of hope.
The journey they go on is filled with ups and downs. Sometimes they're hiding or running for their lives. Sometimes they're crying and hugging and hoping. Sometimes they're in a safe place and the reader gets a small reprieve before moving on. This makes the pacing of the book digestible, if that makes sense. Easier, as there is a lot to take in.
Overall, I loved this story. And I'm just going to say it, that moment where the toe of Ali's boot touches the heel of Yara's shoe will live rent-free in my head forever.
As far as the writing and characters... I just love all of it! Without giving anything away, I loved the juxtaposition of Shireen's sense of duty to her home country, Ali's wanting to fight but being in that awkward age between not still a boy but not yet a man, and Yara's need to simply survive along with her family. This makes for a bittersweet and even somewhat inconclusive ending that is realistic but still gives the reader a modicum of hope.
The journey they go on is filled with ups and downs. Sometimes they're hiding or running for their lives. Sometimes they're crying and hugging and hoping. Sometimes they're in a safe place and the reader gets a small reprieve before moving on. This makes the pacing of the book digestible, if that makes sense. Easier, as there is a lot to take in.
Overall, I loved this story. And I'm just going to say it, that moment where the toe of Ali's boot touches the heel of Yara's shoe will live rent-free in my head forever.
January 14, 2021
This book made me really sad, but it is an important read on the ongoing war in Syria, which I think many of us have seen in the news but don’t know much about. In the fight for democracy, there is a lot of resistance and suppression as we can see even in a current political context marked by the rise in right-wing nationalism.
The conflict in Syria is part of a fight for freedom, waged by various factions, but leaving a wake of destruction and death. Yara’s Spring directs our attention towards war and its consequences on children. They are often the ones most scarred, like Yara’s brother Saad, who develops selective mutism after being in a bombing that kills both their parents.
There is so much loss and grief and horror, as wars inflict, but Yara’s Spring is also a narrative of hope, because of the kindness of strangers who give shelter along the way, because of the desire to keep going and make a better life, like so many of the Syrian parents had believed in and sacrificed for their children. In the midst of war, there is still love, and humanity, as Yara demonstrates when she doesn’t want to meet violence with more violence: “They kill us. We kill them. They kill us. How do we stop?”
Jamal Saeed is amazing for writing this book out of his experiences as a Syrian activist who had lived through the war and suffered as a Prisoner of Conscience for twelve years, I appreciate his courage and for bringing a story that stirs consciences.
The conflict in Syria is part of a fight for freedom, waged by various factions, but leaving a wake of destruction and death. Yara’s Spring directs our attention towards war and its consequences on children. They are often the ones most scarred, like Yara’s brother Saad, who develops selective mutism after being in a bombing that kills both their parents.
There is so much loss and grief and horror, as wars inflict, but Yara’s Spring is also a narrative of hope, because of the kindness of strangers who give shelter along the way, because of the desire to keep going and make a better life, like so many of the Syrian parents had believed in and sacrificed for their children. In the midst of war, there is still love, and humanity, as Yara demonstrates when she doesn’t want to meet violence with more violence: “They kill us. We kill them. They kill us. How do we stop?”
Jamal Saeed is amazing for writing this book out of his experiences as a Syrian activist who had lived through the war and suffered as a Prisoner of Conscience for twelve years, I appreciate his courage and for bringing a story that stirs consciences.
September 6, 2020
"Give what you can, my daughter, even if it is only a smile."
This begins and ends in a refugee camp in Jordan. The rest of the novel reveals what happened to Yara and how she ended up there. It finishes with hope for a better future.
Those in between pages are a hard read. Tears leaked from my eyes more than once. Yara’s life in Aleppo was a happy one with her family in spite of an authoritarian regime. With the Arab Spring uprisings all over the Middle East, conflict in Syria was inevitable.
When her Uncle Sami comes for a visit, Yara ends up asking her father,
What is revolution?
Baba hung his head. “It is another word for war,” he said softly.
Readers see how life changed gradually and then their house and family bakery was bombed by government helicopters. Yara's grandmother, Yara, her younger brother, and two neighbour children flee in search of a way out of Syria and into Jordan. It's a treacherous journey with danger coming from everywhere. At the same time, they are helped by many ordinary people.
Add this to your must read list. Read it and give it to your anti immigrant friends to help you and them understand what it means to be a refugee. #CanKidLit
This begins and ends in a refugee camp in Jordan. The rest of the novel reveals what happened to Yara and how she ended up there. It finishes with hope for a better future.
Those in between pages are a hard read. Tears leaked from my eyes more than once. Yara’s life in Aleppo was a happy one with her family in spite of an authoritarian regime. With the Arab Spring uprisings all over the Middle East, conflict in Syria was inevitable.
When her Uncle Sami comes for a visit, Yara ends up asking her father,
What is revolution?
Baba hung his head. “It is another word for war,” he said softly.
Readers see how life changed gradually and then their house and family bakery was bombed by government helicopters. Yara's grandmother, Yara, her younger brother, and two neighbour children flee in search of a way out of Syria and into Jordan. It's a treacherous journey with danger coming from everywhere. At the same time, they are helped by many ordinary people.
Add this to your must read list. Read it and give it to your anti immigrant friends to help you and them understand what it means to be a refugee. #CanKidLit
October 26, 2020
I received an electronic ARC from Annick Press Ltd. through NetGalley.
Powerful story that captures the journey from Aleppo to a Jordanian refugee camp to a chance at life in Canada. The book starts in the refugee camp with the possibility of emigrating. Then readers are immediately transported to Aleppo and meet the entire family together living by their family's bakery. Tragedy strikes soon when bombs fall and Yara loses her mother and father. She and her baby brother survive and stay with close friends. She searches for her grandmother and learns that though injured she survived. Their travel to Damascus to connect with her uncle takes them from danger to danger. Saeed presents realistic details about the violence and lack of humanity on all sides of the war. It is a stark view of life that opens this world beyond headlines. Though a fictitious story, the experiences are real for children in Syria. The book finishes with the family still in the refugee camp but with the hope of moving to Canada. Yara is still together with her grandmother and little brother and knows the challenges to come.
Triggers - War, violence
Powerful story that captures the journey from Aleppo to a Jordanian refugee camp to a chance at life in Canada. The book starts in the refugee camp with the possibility of emigrating. Then readers are immediately transported to Aleppo and meet the entire family together living by their family's bakery. Tragedy strikes soon when bombs fall and Yara loses her mother and father. She and her baby brother survive and stay with close friends. She searches for her grandmother and learns that though injured she survived. Their travel to Damascus to connect with her uncle takes them from danger to danger. Saeed presents realistic details about the violence and lack of humanity on all sides of the war. It is a stark view of life that opens this world beyond headlines. Though a fictitious story, the experiences are real for children in Syria. The book finishes with the family still in the refugee camp but with the hope of moving to Canada. Yara is still together with her grandmother and little brother and knows the challenges to come.
Triggers - War, violence
May 1, 2021
This is an important story about Arab Spring and the ensuing devastation in Syria told from the point of a middle-school-aged girl. The beauty of the book is found in the obvious love each character has for their country and its culture and the tremendous loss each one feels as they watch the fighting play out in the streets of their city.
I do wish there was more background information about the conflict so students will be able to understand the plot more easily. Many of my students were born around this time period and don't understand how the problems began. Also, at times it felt like the characters moved from one event to another with very little transitions, but that writing style could be used to give the reader the understanding of how Yara and her family felt as they lived through each tragedy without a breath in between.
Overall, this book would be a solid addition to a classroom library and would make for amazing reading group discussions.
Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC.
I do wish there was more background information about the conflict so students will be able to understand the plot more easily. Many of my students were born around this time period and don't understand how the problems began. Also, at times it felt like the characters moved from one event to another with very little transitions, but that writing style could be used to give the reader the understanding of how Yara and her family felt as they lived through each tragedy without a breath in between.
Overall, this book would be a solid addition to a classroom library and would make for amazing reading group discussions.
Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC.
February 14, 2021
It's very rare I give five stars to a book, but this is one of the best I've read in years. Yes, it's intense. Yes, it's heart-breaking in places. Yes, it will be an eye-opener to sheltered pre-teens. But it is an important novel, and deserves five stars on every single level: the writing, the pacing, the characters, the plot, the details, the inspiration and the authenticity (thanks in part to co-author Jamal Saeed #ownvoices). Teens NEED novels like this, that open their eyes to how others live, think, struggle. It will certainly give them more empathy for refugees in their classroom. I also admire how the authors walked a very fine line between keeping it appropriate for young adults and yet not watering down cold, hard facts and situations. That is no small accomplishment. I loved this book.
May 25, 2021
Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy. This is the story of a family surviving through the war in Syria. While fiction, it is based on real events and tells the story of real lives. The plot and suspense had me turning pages, while the interactions and discussions between characters had me feel emotional. I appreciate that the story is clean enough for middle schoolers and young adults. The strong women in this story show all different angles and sides of strength. I finished reading the book feeling more sad than hopeful, but there is a lot for readers to discuss after reading this book. Don’t skip the author’s note at the end! While I wish I definitively knew what happened to the neighbors and extended family, many in Syria didn’t get to know what happened to their loved ones either, so the ending is as happy as a war story could end.
February 23, 2021
Thanks to NetGalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
This review is going to be a difficult one to write. I have started and re-started this review at least five times now. It is difficult for me to express my gratitude for this author and their work for taking something so real, raw, and awful, and putting it into words. This book interested me from the moment I saw the title. The writing, the story, the plot, the characters, all captivated me from the moment I read the first words. Yara is a young girl just living her life in Syria when all of a sudden her world is being changed by these rebels and their plans to overthrow the government. Her family has the unfortunate luck to live in an area that is captured by the rebels and they are innocent bystanders who must deal with the consequences. Bombs falling from the skies and snipers shooting from the rooftops suddenly become normal in Yara's life. Then one day everything changes and its a battle for survival. The realism of Yara's situation is striking and it broke my heart to read about the experiences of those, especially those so young, going through something so unimaginable. Saeed did a wonderful job of showing the world the real-life horrors of life in a war zone in a way that is raw, believable, tough, but also digestible. This book is perfect for adults, young adults, and older middle grade children with the maturity to handle the tough subjects of war, loss, and tragedy.
This review is going to be a difficult one to write. I have started and re-started this review at least five times now. It is difficult for me to express my gratitude for this author and their work for taking something so real, raw, and awful, and putting it into words. This book interested me from the moment I saw the title. The writing, the story, the plot, the characters, all captivated me from the moment I read the first words. Yara is a young girl just living her life in Syria when all of a sudden her world is being changed by these rebels and their plans to overthrow the government. Her family has the unfortunate luck to live in an area that is captured by the rebels and they are innocent bystanders who must deal with the consequences. Bombs falling from the skies and snipers shooting from the rooftops suddenly become normal in Yara's life. Then one day everything changes and its a battle for survival. The realism of Yara's situation is striking and it broke my heart to read about the experiences of those, especially those so young, going through something so unimaginable. Saeed did a wonderful job of showing the world the real-life horrors of life in a war zone in a way that is raw, believable, tough, but also digestible. This book is perfect for adults, young adults, and older middle grade children with the maturity to handle the tough subjects of war, loss, and tragedy.
December 2, 2023
I enjoyed meeting Yara and learning about Syrian history, culture, and geography. Although shelved in Juvenile Fiction, this seems intended for upper middle grade. Yara grows from 10 to 15 throughout the story, and her friends Shireen and Ali are a year older than her. I’m 19 and I thought the writing, word choice, dialogue, descriptions were perfect for what I enjoy reading. Although honest about what it’s like to have your house bombed and travel a refugee, I never found the story scary or gory. There’s a teensy bit of romance between Yara and Ali that was also the perfect amount. I decided to read this now because I needed a title that started with the letter Y to finish my A to Z reading list for 2023. I was taken by surprise by how much I enjoyed it.
December 3, 2021
'Young Adult Fiction' has some very good books appearing on shelves!!
This book is 'easy to read' as in..younger youth can read it. The subject is difficult..suffering at the whim of 'gov't and the high up muckies' they decide what they want they will get no matter the cost..to others!!
In the Yukon Territory there are many people from Syria..and other torn countires.
Personally..I liken a great mix of cultures..people from everywhere..like a musical score. All together..a wonderful symphony, gathering..happens. This person learns from another..this intrument learns from another.
Thank you Jamal Saeed and Family for your story..and this book.
This book is 'easy to read' as in..younger youth can read it. The subject is difficult..suffering at the whim of 'gov't and the high up muckies' they decide what they want they will get no matter the cost..to others!!
In the Yukon Territory there are many people from Syria..and other torn countires.
Personally..I liken a great mix of cultures..people from everywhere..like a musical score. All together..a wonderful symphony, gathering..happens. This person learns from another..this intrument learns from another.
Thank you Jamal Saeed and Family for your story..and this book.
April 5, 2021
What an eye opening book. Living in a first world country, it's hard to imagine what it's like living in a country like Syria. This book definitely made me much more aware of life in Syria. I cried multiple times throughout this book, it was quite sad. I liked how even though this was a work of fiction, everything about it was true to what's really going on in Syria.
I liked how they touched on the issues of Kurdish people. This is a touchy subject for many people, but they handled it well.
All in all, an excellent book with amazing characters and a great storyline.
I liked how they touched on the issues of Kurdish people. This is a touchy subject for many people, but they handled it well.
All in all, an excellent book with amazing characters and a great storyline.
July 21, 2021
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 for this timely and important story of a Syrian girl and her family fighting to stay alive and find safety. When the building housing her family’s bakery and her home is bombed, Yara is dug from the rubble with only her grandmother and younger brother remaining. The trio eventually must flee Aleppo, and spend months on the road, seeking safety. If you’re looking for something uplifting, this isn’t the book. It is, however, a portrait of a girl@coming of age during the harsh war overtaking Syria. Hand this to thoughtful, patient readers in grades 6+.
February 18, 2022
This book, published in 2020, emotionally informs its readers about the personal sufferings of the civil war in Syria told from the perspective of a young girl. On Yara’s fifteenth birthday, her life is tragically altered as she and her grandmother hang sheets on a rooftop clothesline. The rest of the book becomes a page-turning experience of hoping and praying for the survival of the protagonist, her selectively mute younger brother, and her grandmother as they try to leave the country looking for a life without war and tragic loss.
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