The Next New Syrian Girl

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 debut, 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 a new life while harbouring a life-altering secret.

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 heartbreaking secret and new discovery change everything. As the girls race to unravel the truth, a friendship slowly and hesitantly begins blooming. Doubts are cast aside as they realise they have more in common than they each expected. What they find takes them on a journey all the way to Jordan, changing the course of their lives as they know it.

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.