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A Syrian American and Syrian refugee who are at odds must chase a haunting secret that leads them all the way to Jordan in this sharp-witted novel perfect for fans of I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter.

Khadija Shami is a Syrian American high school senior raised on boxing and football. Saddled with a monstrous ego and a fierce mother to test it, she dreams of escaping her sheltered life to travel the world with her best friend.

Leene Tahir is a Syrian refugee, doing her best to adjust to the wildly unfamiliar society of a suburban Detroit high school while battling panic attacks and family pressures.

When their worlds collide the result is catastrophic. To Khadija, Leene embodies the tame, dutiful Syrian ideal she’s long rebelled against. And to Leene, Khadija is the strong-willed, closed-off American who makes her doubt her place in the world.

But as Khadija digs up Leene’s past, a startling and life-changing discovery forces the two of them closer together. As the girls secretly race to unravel the truth, a friendship slowly and hesitantly begins blooming. Doubts are cast aside as they realize they have more in common than they each expected. What they find takes them on a journey all the way to Jordan, challenging what each knows about the other and herself.

Fans of Samira Ahmed’s Love, Hate, and Other Filters and Tahereh Mafi’s A Very Large Expanse Of Sea will love Khadija and Leene’s sharp-witted voices in this dual POV narrative. The Next New Syrian Girl is a poignant and timely blend of guilt, nostalgia, devotion, and bad-ass hijabees.

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Praise for The Next New Syrian Girl:
A School Library Journal Best Book of 2023
A Junior Library Guild Selection
A Kirkus Best YA and Teen Book of 2023

*"A story of friendship and family that finds hope through heartbreak."

Kirkus, starred review
*"...an illuminating read that interrogates themes of war, trauma, and healing.”
Publishers Weekly, starred review
*" Emotional, with respites of dry hilarity (plus an adorable halal romance), every page in Shukairy's debut exudes purpose."
Booklist, starred review
"The Next New Syrian Girl is a powerful and (sadly) relevant story...a testament to the power of young girls to change the world when they stand with one another instead of competing like society wants them to. Unputdownable, heart-breaking, and heart-healing all at once."
Yamile Saied Méndez, Pura Belpré medalist author of FURIA, a Reese’s Book Club selection
“Real, raw, and enthralling, Ream Shukairy crafts a moving story of friendship, redemption, and hope. You’ll fall in love with Khadija and Leene and the journey they take toward each other.”
S. K. Ali, bestselling and award-winning author of Love from A to Z
“The Next New Syrian Girl is an engrossing, crackling debut. Shukairy kept me tearing through the pages with masterfully executed twists, fraught family dynamics, and the blossoming friendship between Khadija and Leene. Heart-wrenching, heartwarming, and altogether healing.”
Allison Saft, New York Times bestselling author of A Far Wilder Magic
"A poignant story of two girls who are so different yet the same. Shukairy lays out both sides of a diaspora and a refugee and the longing both feel towards a home that has lost too much. As a Syrian, I was seen. One word to describe this debut: beautiful.”
Zoulfa Katouh author of As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow
"The Next New Syrian Girl by Ream Shukairy is a remarkable debut. Shukairy's cross-cultural narrative skillfully weaves a rich tapestry of sisterhood, family, and friendship. Examining themes of generational trauma, PTSD, immigration, culture, and religion, Shukairy is unapologetic in asking tough questions about who we become based on the privileges we have or don't have. Shukairy's page turning writing is gracious, humorous, and insightful, offering the reader food for thought and soul. "
Echo Brown, Morris Award finalist and author of Black Girl Unlimited and The Chosen One
"The Next New Syrian Girl captures the importance of friendship and the complicated journey one undertakes in the present to reconcile both past and future. A heartfelt and multifaceted novel that sings of hope."
Laila Sabreen, author of You Truly Assumed
“The Next New Syrian Girl finds empathy, light, and connections in a story that sheds insight into war, trauma, and loss. Khadija and Leene’s journey will stay with you long after the last page.”
Adiba Jaigirdar, award-winning author of Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating

On Sale: Sep 17, 2024
Page Count: 432 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
ISBN-13: 9780316432757

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Ream Shukairy

About the Author

Ream Shukairy is a Syrian American born and raised full-time in Orange County, California and part-time over summers in Syria. Whether in California or Syria, she feels at home where her family is and wherever there’s a beach. She has a talent for learning languages and is always on the search for the next place she can travel and flex her words. The daughter of immigrants, there isn’t a stereotype she won’t try her hardest to defy. She can be found reading at the beach, with her sisters watching anime, or playing volleyball really anywhere. She currently resides in Boston for graduate school. The Next New Syrian Girl is her debut novel.

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