Illustrated by Vali Mintzi
5 stars
A beautiful story of hope and light in dark times and the power of books. When war reaches their home in Damascus, cousins Nour and Amir band together to create a secret library. Together with their friends and neighbors, they collect books from abandoned homes and bombed buildings to bring hope to their community.
A powerful story that celebrates how books can teach us, entertain us, and offer an escape from reality when we need it. Pulling from her own experiences during the civil war in Lebanon and the real-life secret library in Daraya, Tarnowska creates a wonderful story about the power of hope and community.
Splendid illustrations that perfectly balance the darkness of war with the bright hope the secret library created.
The backmatter includes a short glossary of terms, as well as information about Syria, famous libraries in the Middle East, the real secret library in Daraya, and how culture in lost during wartime. There is also an Author’s Note and Illustrator’s Note detailing their connections to the subject matter and how they overcame obstacles in the creative process.
A fantastic read that touches on the horrors of war and emphasizes the power of hope to bring a community together.