Young American Carina Rourke grew up in blissful innocence in the Middle East until at age fifteen she succumbed to her obsessive desire to search inside her mother's fobidden jewelry box. In so doing, she discovered a shocking family secret. On the heels of her discovery, she and her family pursued her father's dream of an exotic drive through the Middle East and Europe. This journey serves as a metaphor for the woman Carina became--a silent nomad searching for identity.
After she discovers a shocking family secret, Carina takes a journey toward self-acceptance in this “must-read for anyone who is adopted” (Richard Krawczyk). A young American growing up in the Middle East, Carina Rourke enjoys a blissful innocence until, at age fifteen, she is captivated by an obsessive desire to look inside her mother’s forbidden jewelry box. There, Carina discovers a shocking family secret. On the heels of her discovery, she and her family pursue her father’s dream of a road trip through the Middle East and Europe. Their adventure serves as a metaphoric journey for the woman Carina becomes—a silent nomad searching for identity. When they reach Paris, Carina is entranced by the city’s temptations. French pastries become a dangerous addiction and an accomplice in silence . . . and so does the love of a mysterious Tunisian. Many years later, as a married mother in Holland, Carina draws on her father’s wisdom to finally confront the family secret and begin to heal herself and her family. “Carina’s book shows you how to become empowered by the sometimes shocking and traumatic experience of adoption.” —Richard Krawczyk, author of Ultimate Success Blueprint
The extraordinary true story of one teen refugee’s quest to find a new life—now adapted for young readers A Hope More Powerful Than the Sea tells the story of Doaa Al-Zamel, a Syrian girl whose life was upended in 2011 by her country’s brutal civil war. She and her family escape to Egypt, but life soon quickly becomes dangerous for Syrians in that country. Doaa and her fiancé decide to flee to Europe to seek safety and an education, but four days after setting sail on a smuggler’s dilapidated fishing vessel along with five hundred other refugees, their boat is struck and begins to sink... Doaa’s eye-opening story, as told by Melissa Fleming, represents the millions of unheard voices of refugees who risk everything in a desperate search for a safe future.
This captivating collection offers insights into the lives of Syrian brides-to-be and married women. With warmth and humor, the stories reveal the oppression found in Syrian society, and raise issues such as domestic violence.
Many Americans, educators included, mistakenly believe all Arabs share the same culture, language, and religion, and have only recently begun immigrating to the United States. A Kid's Guide to Arab American History dispels these and other stereotypes and provides a contemporary as well as historical look at the people and experiences that have shaped Arab American culture. Each chapter focuses on a different group of Arab Americans including those of Lebanese, Syrian, Palestinian, Jordanian, Egyptian, Iraqi, and Yemeni descent and features more than 50 fun activities that highlight their distinct arts, games, clothing, and food. Kids will love dancing the dabke, constructing a derbekke drum, playing a game of senet, making hummus, creating an arabesque design, and crafting an Egyptian-style cuff bracelet. Along the way they will learn to count in Kurdish, pick up a few Syrian words for family members, learn a Yemeni saying, and speak a little Iraqi. Short biographies of notable Arab Americans, including actor and philanthropist Danny Thomas, singer Paula Abdul, artist Helen Zughaib, and activist Ralph Nader, demonstrate a wide variety of careers and contributions.
