A Land of Permanent Goodbyes

by Atia Abawi

In a country ripped apart by war, Tareq lives with his big and loving family . . . until the bombs strike. His city is in ruins. His life is destroyed. And those who have survived are left to figure out their uncertain future.

In the wake of destruction, he's threatened by Daesh fighters and witnesses a public beheading. Tareq's family knows that to continue to stay alive, they must leave. As they travel as refugees from Syria to Turkey to Greece, facing danger at every turn, Tareq must find the resilience and courage to complete his harrowing journey.

But while this is one family's story, it is also the timeless tale of all wars, of all tragedy, and of all strife. When you are a refugee, success is outliving your loss.

Genres: Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Contemporary, Realistic Fiction, War, Middle East

288 pages, Hardcover

First published January 23, 2018

About the author

Atia Abawi is a foreign correspondent and author based in the Middle East.

From an early age, Atia knew she wanted to be a journalist. After graduating from Virginia Tech, where she anchored the college’s local television station VTTV, Atia volunteered and was then hired on at CTV 76 –a local TV station in Largo, MD. In Maryland, Atia covered a wide range of stories – from politics to the impact that drugs and crime had on the local community - before moving to Atlanta to work for CNN.

At CNN, she started in the Media Operations department before making her way to the international desk. Within 2-years Atia was out in the field, producing on stories that included Benazir Bhutto’s assassination in Pakistan and the war in Iraq. A year-later she was hired to be CNN’s Afghanistan correspondent and manager of its Kabul bureau – an operation that she organized and set up.

In Afghanistan, Atia spent time traveling and embedding with U.S., NATO and Afghan forces -including during major military operations. She has also interviewed numerous Afghan, International, and American politicians and generals.

Outside of Afghanistan, Atia reported on various international stories for CNN -including the Aung San Suu Kyi trial – where she had to sneak into Myanmar’s military state and film covertly - and the Gaza Flotilla attack of 2010 by Israeli forces.

In 2010, NBC News hired Atia to report and manage its operations in Afghanistan. Additionally, she also reported from London as part of NBC’s Royal wedding coverage, and was a part of the NBC News special report after the US raid that killed Osama Bin Laden, providing analysis and commentary. She was also able to obtain an NBC Exclusive interview with President Hamid Karzai in 2012 - the first for the network in a decade.

After nearly 5-years of living in Afghanistan, Atia moved to Jerusalem in January 2013. In that year, she covered President Barack Obama’s historic trip to Israel and Palestine, the military coup in Egypt, and the Kenyan mall siege by Al-Shabab militants among other stories.

Atia’s first book, “The Secret Sky: A Novel of Forbidden Love in Afghanistan” was published by Philomel, an imprint of Penguin Group, in September 2014.

Atia Abawi graduated from Virginia Tech and was most recently awarded their Outstanding Alumna honor. She is fluent in Dari and Farsi. Born in Germany, she moved to America at the age of one, growing up in Fairfax County, Virginia. Atia is married to FOX News Correspondent Conor Powell.

Reviews

[Atia Abawi · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s my book 😊 Thanks to all who have taken the time to read ALOPG! And to those who plan to read it. As someone who was a refugee myself this story was important for me to share.

[♛ may · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 4 completed for #RamadanReadathon

i am absolutely gutted. this book had me sobbing from the first three minutes.

what a journey this was.

“So yes, you were born to die. But in between, you are meant to live.”

[Amy Layton · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an astounding book.  Though not too violent at its core, this book certainly displays an affinity for discussing the aftereffects and reactions to the violence which humanity commits on a day to day basis--namely, in this book, terrorism caused by Daesh in Syria.  As we begin to follow Tareq, we are also allowed insight not only into what used to be his everyday life, but into the horrors he now bears witness to and the fears others harbor towards him.  Nuanced would be the word I'd use to describe this book.

I'll be honest.  I live a pretty comfortable life.  Even cases of domestic terrorism are pretty far away from me, which allows me to be unsettled but still feeling rather safe in where I am.  Everything I know about refugees and fleeing one's home is theoretical, and likely through the lens of a white journalist.  This is why this book felt so important to me--because it questioned what I knew, what I didn't know, and taught me more than I thought it could.  

Because I don't know the author, I can't definitively say what her goal was in writing this book.  But if it was to enlighten white readers about the horrors refugees must face, she succeeded.  If it was to delve into a character's fears and anxieties about being forced to flee from the place he's always know, she succeeded.  If it was to critique governments and charities and relief systems' reactions to terrorism, she succeeded.  This book did a lot of things, and it succeeded.

Another thing I think it succeeded in was the position of the narrator, which is destiny.  I think it's a wonderful call to The Book Thief, and it works so well.   The narration wonderfully navigates the fine line between "you can't outrun destiny" and "nothing's set in stone."  

Overall, this book is a wonderful, beautiful book that does not shy away from the violence and horrors one must endure due to terrorism.  If you enjoy or are interested in learning about other cultures, human trafficking, homelessness, and hard or unpresent goodbyes, this book is definitely for you.

Review cross-listed here!

[Noor · Rating 2 out of 5]

The refugee crisis is one that needs to be talked about, and despite this book’s many shortcomings, it did, at least, do that. It doesn’t do so as well or as powerfully as I hoped, but it is one of the few positive things that definitely cannot be discounted. It’s just a shame, because it could have been so much more.

This is clearly a book that panders to a white audience. From the offset, the book was obviously invested in creating characters that were human by relating various anecdotes that would make these characters more ‘relatable’. I have nothing against this - in fact, humanizing marginalized characters is something I always support, but it was done so transparently and ineffectually here. It felt forced and artificial, the characters two-dimensional and not existing beyond these few characteristics that defined them. The writing style doesn’t help either - for the most part it’s clunky and painfully detached, and doesn’t pack any of the emotional punch you’d expect for all the dark, harrowing scenes there are throughout. But it doesn’t end there.

One of the main things that bothered me about how this ‘humanization’ took place was that the characters weren’t particularly religious, and it seemed like a decision made to make them somehow more easily relatable, to show that Islam comes in different shades. I just couldn’t see how this was a wise decision here, having the majority of the protagonists not do casual things like pray or wear a hijab, while having the ISIS characters enforce these things in an extremely violent manner. The only time Islam was ever explicitly talked about was through the mouths of these radicalist characters. I’m not blaming the author’s intentions here, I’m just saying that despite the obligatory claim that ‘ISIS is not really Islam’ that’s slipped in near the beginning, all actions and evidence in this novel fail to support this, for the simple fact that there isn’t much explicit Islam outside of this, and that’s a very poor piece of negligence on the author’s part, especially when dealing with an already demonized religion. But it doesn’t end there.

From there I noticed how awkwardly didactic the book would get at times, explaining in very transparent ways about the political situation in Syria, namely the problems with ISIS and the rebels and the Assad regime. The problem is, that’s where the discourse stops. Every time politics are brought up in any way, it stops short of mentioning anything about the involvement of the US or any western powers, for that matter - the brunt of the blame, the brunt of the origin of all the suffering, falls on the shoulders of the Middle East and the Middle East alone. If a book is going to be incredibly direct in its discussion of politics, then there is absolutely no reason why this shouldn’t have come up. But it doesn’t end there, either.

And so the pandering continues. Moving down to a smaller scale, from these large political ideas about who’s to blame for this whole crisis, down to the plot itself, and what happens to our main characters as they attempt to travel west and escape the tragedies of Syria. The blame, again, continues to fall on the Middle Eastern characters. You have the portrayal of the treatment the refugees receive at the hands of the Turkish starkly contrasted against the welcome they’re met with in Greece. In one place, they are described as being treated worse than dogs (there is a literal scene where the main character looks at a dog being fed and says this, in case this wasn’t clear enough to the undiscerning reader), exploited, forced into prostitution through desperation, being cheated out of their money, and generally taken advantage of. In the other, they’re welcomed by (predominantly white) saviours from across the world into a refugee camp, given shelter, food, and clothing. But it doesn’t end there.

In the whole book, the author tries to discount some of the misinformation spread about refugees - tries to paint them in a different light. Tries to show that the suicide bombers and the rapists are an infinitesimal fraction of a larger whole. She says all these things, trying to justify the presence of refugees in a foreign country, while never touching on the treatment these refugees face at the hands of the people they turn for refuge to. She never touches on the harassment, the attacks, any of that. She shows the ugly side of the Middle East, not even attempting to cover it up, bringing forth incredibly incomplete arguments that don’t support the point she’s trying to make, without even bothering to show any of the flip side - any of the ugliness that exists outside of it.

And that’s my main problem with the book. The way it’s framed, the way everything is told, it’s like the root of all evil lies at the heart of the Middle East, and you have these broken people trying to escape it as best they can, while bringing some of that evil along with them. I’m not saying this is the message the book is trying to get across - I’m saying this is the message that ends up getting across when the author fails to acknowledge half of the issue, sweeping it under the rug for whoever’s sensibilities it is she’s trying not to offend. And despite the fact that this is a book that talks about such an important issue, and tries to portray it in such a realistic and harrowing way, this isn’t the type of book that you can make mistakes in, no matter how good your intentions are, and I cannot support it because of that. If you’re looking for a book about the refugee crisis, this is not the book to pick up. I suggest Mohsin Hamid’s Exist West, which deals with much of the same content, while not being riddled with all this pandering and overall ineffectual storytelling.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars. I went back and forth trying to decide if this was a 2 star read or a 3 star and finally decided to round up based solely on the story. It's important for these stories to be told, for YA readers to be exposed to them, and for the experiences of refugees to be heard and understood from their perspective. This book does exactly that. Unfortunately, the story was the only element I really enjoyed. The book is told by destiny much the way The Book Thief was narrated by death, although here it was not nearly as effective or convincing, nor did it add anything to the narrative except let the author do a lot of telling. The characters are wonderful, but the whole book just felt very flat. Maybe it was the narration, maybe it was too short and plot-focused, maybe it was me—I'm not sure—but for such a heartwrenching story, my read felt very superficial.

[Skip · Rating 2 out of 5]

It is vital that the refugee crisis is told to all audiences, including young adult, and Syria is about as terrible as there is. But, while the characters were okay, the story was kind of dull. The volunteers, in particular, were not well developed either, although I liked Abawi's effort to include their perspective.

[Claire Draper · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me cry. At my desk. In public. It was every bit of a lovely book that I needed this year.

[K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trigger warnings: death of a parent, death of a sibling, bombing, war, executions, death of a child, manipulation, people smuggling, child trafficking, drowning, mentions of rape.

OW MY FEELINGS. Let's be real here: this book is 100% intended for white readers. And white teenagers at that. It's pretty simplistic, and everything is very black and white - there are bad people and good people, that's it. No one operates in a moral grey zone, it's all one way or the other. And I fully recognise that this isn't an accurate representation of what Syrian refugees experience.

But as someone who works with hundreds of white teenagers on a daily basis? They need shit like this. They need to see the why and the how and the struggles and the motivations. They need to see the manipulation and the people taking advantage and the fact that there are people who give up their time to help. They need to see all of that to put what they see in the media into context. They need to follow one character through their story to put an actual human face on things, a kid who's just like them in so many ways.

So yes, this book is simplistic and aimed at white people. But it's necessary. And it's an emotional punch to the gut on numerous occasions.

[Sumaiyya · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this because it aims to tell the important story of what Syrian refugees go through, but the writing and characterization failed to catch my attention and it all felt flat. There were a few moments when the prose felt promising, especially in the earlier part of the book, but overall I was underwhelmed by Destiny as a narrator and overwhelmed by the didactic narrative and conversations between characters. It felt like I didn’t have space as a reader to do anything but take whatever is being said as the reality. Now, I’m not saying that I think the writer tried to force wrongful ideas or anything - I just it was more of tell than show. And personally I think it might have been much better, less emotionally manipulative and more compelling if the author had written a memoir instead. Too often I felt like I was reading the work of a journalist rather than a novel.

Thank you Penguin Random House International for sending me a copy a in exchange of an honest review.

[Laura Sackton · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one fell firmly on the line between 2 and 3 stars for me. It's a serious and heartbreaking story about a teenage boy from Syria who becomes a refuge when his home is bombed, and his journey from Syria through Turkey and Greece. It's devastating, timely material. Unfortunately, the execution was poor. Tareq's story on its own was compelling, and the scenes told from his POV are what tipped the balance toward three stars instead of two. But Abawi made the choice to use an omniscient narrator, "Destiny". Destiny often cuts in with long passages of exposition about war, violence, and human nature throughout history. Those passages felt vague, didactic, and way too heavy-handed. Every time Destiny's narration came back in, I was pulled out of the story.

I wish Abawi had allowed Tareq full ownership of this story. That's where the heart of it was, and there was no need for external context or moralizing. Tareq's experiences, and those of his family, speak for themsleves. His story is one of thousands of similar refugee stories--which I guess is the point Destiny is making--but what makes good fiction is its specificity. Specificity--the ability to make what is general, or far away, or hazy, or unknown, real and immediate and weighty--is the force that drives compassion, understanding, and empathy. Tareq's story was specific, but there was a lot of writing surrounding it that felt unnecessary.

I also struggled with the character of Alexia--a young American volunteer working at the refugee camp in Greence where Tareq arrives. There are several chapters told from her point of view, but she never really felt like a full character to me. She seemed only to represent something--the helper. (Abawi makes several references to the Mr. Roger's quote "look for the helpers".) She's naive and sheltered when she arrives, and she is broken by what she sees, but she has no real arc. She does go through a particularly harrowing experience at the end of the book, but even so, there's no growth, no change, no forward momentum. She's represents the good white girl, the helper, the compassionate volunteer--but she has no agency or struggle or desires of her own. She sometimes acts in a white-savior-ish way, but this wasn't ever addressed or explored. I struggled to get through the sections from her POV; they didn't add any depth to the story.

This was a hard read in many ways--Abawi does not flinch away from any of the atrocities of war and violence, and the realities of displacement that refugees face at every turn. The best scenes were the hardest ones to read, where she settled into Tareq's POV, whether traveling through an ISIS controlled city in Syria, looking for work with his cousin in Turkey, or on a dinghy crossing from Turkey to Greece. These were the moments that brought the story to life, that got under my skin, the moments when I felt both the utter horror of what Tareq was going through, as well as his resilience, vulnerability, and strength.

Perhaps other readers will find the narrative structure less distracting, but I was disappointed in the overall execution of what could have been a much more compelling read.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book uses a similar narrative device as The Book Thief, using "Destiny" as the narrator. But every part where the narration steps back from Tareq's story into Destiny's pontificating is overwrought and obviously didactic. I thought the portions with the volunteer Alexia were also like that. For example, on page 115, the narrator describes urinating as "the most human of actions." Despite this, A Land of Permanent Goodbyes is a very moving novel and gives an important and heart-wrenching look at the survival of one teenage refugee.

[Enne · Rating 2 out of 5]

”So yes, you were born to die. But in between, you are meant to live.”

2 stars
TW:n/a
read full review here
*full review include favorite quotes and a spoiler section


The Writing
The writing was. Bland. This was narrated by Destiny, which sounds kind of similar to the Book Thief situation, as that one’s narrated by Death. However, the execution is nothing like the Book Thief, and I could not help comparing the two. We get a total of maybe 3 chapters that actually feel like they’re being narrated by Destiny specifically, and in the rest of them it’s just this omniscient narrator, but the narration doesn’t add anything to the story.

In addition, I was really not a fan of the way the dialogue in this was written. I just found it to be annoying and very forced and not natural at all. And now I wasn’t expecting Leigh Bardugo level natural-ness, but hey, could you at least give me something that doesn’t feel like a script you have to read for drama class?

The Plot/Pacing
The plot was just all over the place. And not in a good way. (Is there even a good way?) The fact that we switched between two character POVs made this so much more confusing that it could have been. As a result, the plot was not at all linear and I found myself confused at what was going on with the story. In addition, the climax of the plot feels completely unrelated to the rest of the story and it was not nearly as intense as I would have liked it to be, but my hands were shaking, so that’s nice, I guess.

The Characters
They were so flat. And like every single YA protagonist you are ever going to get. A little headstrong, thinking with their heart, only care about doing good. I don’t know about you, but I feel like that’s bullshit. No one is ever truly good or truly evil. And the book talks about that. But it doesn’t seem to talk about in regard to the main characters, who are painted like little angels, one of whom did not deserve what happened to him. And I agree, he didn’t. But is he really that innocent? Has he really never done one bad thing in his life? I find that kind of hard to believe. So yeah, unrealistic and flat characters are clearly not my thing.

Overall
I liked the idea of this. I wanted to like it. I really did. Because this story is important and more stories like this need to be told. I just wish someone else had done the telling. Someone who could have done this story justice. And maybe I’m not being fair to the author here, but hey, that’s not a part of my job description. I just wish this was done BETTER. Because I wanted to love, but I just ended up being very disappointed by it. So, that’s that. I’m going to stop ranting now.

[Darla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Edelweiss and Philomel for a digital ARC of this book. The Syrian refugee crisis has been in the news and this book is very effective in giving life to those stories. Abawi tells the story of Tareq, a Syrian teenager by using Destiny as the narrator. We also meet Alexia, an American volunteer working to help refugees after they cross the Aegean Sea and land in Greece. We are given intimate glimpses into the minds and hearts of both Tareq and Alexia to give us insights into the plight of the refugees and the experiences they have on their journey to find a new home. This book is full of heartbreaking scenes that vividly portray lives of those dealing with war every day. Recommended!

[Wendy Dopkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is heavy, but SO worth it. It is so powerful and well-written...Highly recommended!

[Dani N · Rating 5 out of 5]

You may also find my thoughts and a guest post from Atia Abawi on Books, Vertigo & Tea.

“The human heart is the most complicated creation I’ve ever encounter. The formation of the cosmos was easier to understand.”
~Atia Abawi, A Land of Permanent Goodbyes (Uncorrected text)

Some books enter your life and leave a mark, and then there are those that stay etched within you permanently. You know by the time you close them, that you are wiser and better for having read them. A Land of Permanent Goodbyes is the paragon of such books.

Thrusting the reader into the heart of the Syrian refugee crisis, it serves to not only enlighten but encourage one to want more. To want to know more, to want to do more and to want to be more. A distinct narration told through Destiny, crafts a powerful and sincere observance of humanity and one young boy’s journey to seek a secure and safe life for his sister and father that pulls at every emotion, offering the reader a chance to relish in the smallest victories and cry with the greatest losses.

A Land of Permanent Goodbyes accomplishes and covers an impressive list of important topics over the span of less than 300 pages. Subtle at times and brazen during others, it exposes the reader to the reality of refugee life and the terrors and struggles entailed within. Not a comfort read, but certainly food for the soul and heart, it challenges one to assess government policies and relief systems in place, acknowledging flaws and weaknesses while also allowing a glimpse of the good that still exists among it all, thereby lending the reader a hope and desire for something better in humanity.

One of the most raw, significant and forceful stories I have had the fortune of encountering, I believe A Land of Permanent Goodbyes deserves to be experienced by all.

*I would like to thank the publisher and author for this copy. The above review is my own, unbiased opinion.

Savored over a cup of white jasmine tea with hibiscus blossoms.

[Lisa Welch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Penguin Random House First to Read for an advance copy.

I am reading some amazing and diverse books to start off 2018! This book packs a big punch, but is a powerful and important read. Written by a woman who is a journalist in the Middle East, this novel brings the Syrian refugee crisis to life in a way I never could have imagined. Narrated by Destiny, the journey of Tarek and his family, from their happy days in Syria to their escape to Europe, will inspire you to find out what more you can do to help make this world a better place. Abawi sends some very specific and direct messages to her readers at the end, which just makes the book all that more powerful. We've heard the horror stories of Syrian refugees, and now we do not need to wonder anymore what those journeys are like. Extremely well written and extremely thought-provoking.

[Chelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tareq has lost everything except for his father and his youngest sister after the conflict in Syria reaches his home. They manage to escape to Turkey, but living as a refugee is unspeakably hard. Do they risk their lives to try to make it to Europe?

Well-researched and heart-wrenching, this is an important story that I'd like all my teens to read. However, the narrator of Destiny gets quite preachy, and the didactic tone really comes out towards the end of the novel. I would've much preferred it had the story been told through Tareq's point of view, or even if it had been told through both Tareq and Alexia, with the latter being a little better developed. Still a strong read.

[Lucy Booth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing. Beautifully written. It it truly inspiring. It tells not only of Syrian refugees, but refugees in the Middle East today, as well as throughout history. I also loved how it was narrated by destiny. This put an interesting twist to the book. I honestly can say this is one of the best, if not best books I have ever read.

(This book was given to me by a local book store to read and review)

[hannah van eerden · Rating 4 out of 5]

sad, scared, inspired

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

An outstanding book. I have already recommended it to many friends and family with strong ties to Turkey and Syria. Even though I wish I could have gotten to know every one of the characters more deeply, I will not soon forget the scenes in this story, especially the trip across the Mediterranean, knowing that they will be in my mind for a very long time.

I struggled a lot with the author's portrayal of Turkish people, having lived through much of the Syrian refugee crisis in basically a Turkey-Syria border city. Turkish people are some of my favorite people in the world, and I know a handful (not many) Turkish friends who have spent significant amounts of time helping Syrian refugees find food and clothing, coal and tents. But the sad majority of Turkish people are very indifferent to the current plight of Syrians, and reading about the author's portrayal of Turkish people made me incredibly sad. I wish their interest or disinterest in Syrian refugees wasn't mainly connected with political votes and financial gain.

I see many reviews of the book criticizing the way the author summarizes the Assad regime, the Syrian refugee crisis and rise of ISIS in such a neat, quick way, without mentioning the role the West has had in creating such a conflict. This is absolutely true. But I also appreciate the fact that a person with little knowledge of political or Middle Eastern history, especially a young person, can read this book and get the beginning of the story, and clearly see the author's call for humanity to acknowledge the crisis and do something.

I will continue recommending this to friends and family and anyone interested in the Syrian refugee crisis. It is an important story. The last pages of the novel will stick with me for years.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I was often annoyed by the occasional intrusion of the narrator, Destiny, despite the truth of those offered comments, I ended up being thoroughly impressed by this book. The author does a marvelous job of putting the recent refugee crisis in Europe into perspective while allowing readers to get to know one family in particular. When his family's apartment is bombed, Tareq and his little sister Susan are the only survivors. His father, who had been away at the time, realizes that Syria is no longer a safe place for his family, and they must find sanctuary. But they have little money for travel, and head to his uncle's home, which is deep in a portion of the country controlled by the conservative Daesh group. Readers will find it hard to believe some of the things they see along their way as well as the lack of compassion with which Tareq and the other refugees are treated once they finally reach Turkey and prepare to cross over the water to Greece. I was absolutely horrified at the descriptions of the overloaded boats and the almost-useless life jackets that were sold to the refugees. Still, despite all of the terrible things Tareq and the others endure, the author is careful to thread the narrative with elements of hope and the awareness that there are good individuals out there who are willing to help. From my safe and insulated vantage point, it was easy for me to shake my head at everything described here and wonder how it ever came to this point, but I also felt guilty for not doing or knowing more. As the book concludes, "I hope you will provide that warmth, be that helper, do what you can to make that world a better place. Because when I meet you--and I will--there will be a reckoning. There always is" (p. 274). With those final words ringing in my eyes, I must once again look at my own actions to consider what I can do. How easy it is turn away from these tragedies unfolding in front of us and feel that we can do nothing. but is that the truth or a convenient way of soothing our guilt?

[Katie B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tareq and his family are living in Syria, a country torn apart by war, when tragedy strikes his family. A horrific bombing claims the lives of many of his family members. Tareq and his surviving family members know the only way they can stay alive is if they leave the country they call home. But life as a refugee is no less dangerous as they make their journey from one country to the next. Told from the perspective of Destiny, this is a story about war, destruction, family, and love.

I'll admit I was a little iffy about reading a story told from Destiny's perspective but it ended up working in the story's favor and didn't overshadow the rest of the characters. Obviously, this is a timely story given the current events in Syria, but Destiny shows war has been destroying innocent lives for centuries. While Tareq and his family might be fictional characters, what they experience in the story is very accurate to the real life stories from refugees. I definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a better understanding of the plight of the refugees.

Thank you to First to Read for the opportunity to read an advance digital copy! I was under no obligation to review and all views expressed are my honest opinion.

[Reading_ Tamishly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartbreaking and heartracing both cos I was in a crazy war filled place while reading this book.

When human becomes cruel and greedy, this happens. Girls and women suffer the most; families suffer and get separated; people die while trying to escape the war.

Trigger warnings for assault and loss of family.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Abawi, Atia A Land of Permanent Goodbyes 278 pages. Philomel Books (Penguin Random House), 2018. $7 (paperback). Language: G; Mature Content: PG; Violence : PG

Tareq’s family has a wonderful life until the Syrian Civil conflict comes showering down on their heads. Of the family Tareq, his father, a younger brother and a younger sister are the only survivors and they work to make their way to Europe, specifically Germany. The going is really hard; Tareq’s family tries to do everything legally in a situation where no one else recognizes any laws. The book teaches about empathy and understanding. We wonder why refugees don’t go home, we need to realize for some there is no home to go back to.

I read a prepublication copy, at times it switched to first person and then went back to a narrative. It was a bit confusing, but I felt the book was worth reading and would definitely buy it for my library.

MS – ESSENTIAL; HS – ADVISABLE. Reviewer: Lisa Moeller; Language Arts Teacher/Librarian
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2018...

[Jaime Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely phenomenal! A beautifully written, yet heart wrenching story of the struggle for survival in the war torn Middle East. Narrated by Destiny personified, this novel depicts the tragic experiences of a Syrian youth, and his determination to find a safer world for his sister. Without a doubt.......a MUST READ!
Thank you to Penguin First to Read for access to an advanced reader copy!

[Plainqoma · Rating 5 out of 5]

It focused more on a refugees stories. But just for that sole reason I'll give this a full stars rating because I need more people to read their experiences and life as a refugees. How it felt leaving your country and family and treated badly at countries you're fleeing to.

Such an important book to read. I know most of the readers giving this less than 4 stars due to the characters development. But it's enough for me to follow through the characters life as a refugees. Focusing on Tareeq and Susan mostly, it's a story of Syrian refugees leaving their beloved country after losing most of their family members. Being exploited by smugglers and scams to get through each countries just baffled me.

Heartbreaking and painfully true. Told from few perspectives. You can experienced the side story of post war from a volunteer helping the refugees, and a refugees side story. My heart really broke for that boat scene. And the insert story of Alan Kurdi, the Syrian-Kurdish boy who lost his life.

This is something different if you need to diverse your read!

[Amanda Kingswell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very seldom do I give a book 5 stars but, this one really earned it. In this story we meet a boy named Tareq and his family who live in Syria, tragedy strikes his family and those that remain are left to flee Syria so they can survive. The story is narrated by Destiny. It is so wonderfully done and I could not put it down. I will admit this is definitely a story that will make you cry or at least have some emotional feeling. We see on the news about the refugees trying to escape their countries and we hear about it but, this author makes the reader become part of the world of being a refugee. No longer being able to call your home, home and escaping to a country where some people don't want you there because they fear you and others want to help you. It is a great read for adults and teens.

[Teenreadsdotcom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Atia Abawi, a foreign news correspondent whose parents were Afghan refugees, first gained popularity among young adult readers with her romantic novel, SECRET SKY, set in modern-day Afghanistan. In her latest novel, A LAND OF PERMANENT GOODBYES, Abawi draws from her experience reporting in the Middle East to tell the continuing story of the Syrian refugee crisis to her teen audiences. Raw and authentic, A LAND OF PERMANENT GOODBYES is a witness to the struggle of all refugees.

Present-day Syria is a country torn apart by the government and the Daesh, and caught in the middle are the families who suffer the consequences. In A LAND OF PERMANENT GOODBYES, Tareq, a teenage boy, can remember a time before the war started, when his family was able to live peacefully going to school, swimming in the Euphrates River and practicing their Muslim faith. Suddenly, forced to flee with only their lives, Tareq and his family attempt the harrowing passage from Syria to Europe in hopes of a better future. The life of a refugee is perilous with starvation, human trafficking and criminals who would take advantage of their plight. Tareq and the refugees he meets on the way are faced with discrimination when trying to find jobs, registering in different countries and being manipulated by those who would rather exploit their desperation for their own gain.

Narrated by the omnipresent and solemn Destiny, Tareq’s story is eye-opening to the horrors that refugees experience, specifically those fleeing to Europe from Syria and Afghanistan. Though this is a work of fiction, A LAND OF PERMANENT GOODBYES is derived from Abawi’s own experience documenting the Syrian refugee crisis and does not dramatize nor underplay the reality of the situation. It is perfectly balanced; while serious, the novel itself is not dense; though not blatant, Abawi elegantly describes, through the casual conversations of the characters, the political tensions that stimulated the Syrian Civil War; it is neither slow nor action-packed, which allows for the reader to reflect on the experiences the novel presents.



Through Destiny, Abawi describes Tareq’s loneliness caused by the ghosts of his past as he struggles to cope with terror and questions everything he thought he knew. While describing atrocities no one should see, the beginning tone is childlike as Tareq imagines his family together and whole, reminding the reader that refugee children are forced to grow up sooner than intended. Still, Tareq and the refugees are a testimony to hope, finding ways to survive by gathering together for strength, sharing in each other’s sorrow as they undertake their journey. “Goodbye Syria, please forgive us…we didn’t want to go.”

While the thoughts and concerns of many characters are presented, Abawi smoothly switches between the perspectives of Tareq and Alexia, a young American volunteer in Greece. Alexia, who means well but is relatively naive, learns to come to know the other volunteers and refugees she interacts with in the face of dangers that she is not immune from either. Through Alexia, Abawi addresses the sense of responsibility that many volunteers in the same position as Alexia have, including futileness in the face of extreme loss. Still, Alexia upholds the hopeful tone of the novel when she insists on continuing, constantly looking for the helpers in her life.

Beautifully written with identifiable characters, A LAND OF PERMANENT GOODBYES’ characters do not seem to have many flaws in the beginning. However, I do not think it detracts from the novel; disaster can strike anyone, no matter who they are. Neither does Abawi does not vilify anyone; rather, she focuses on how tragedy can change people, sometimes for better or worse. She describes how young boys are recruited and brainwashed to join the Daesh army, her tone both ironic and sad as she considers the fate of those who are led into becoming perpetrators of human suffering. However, Abawi strongly calls her readers to their moral obligation to stand up for human dignity. Destiny warns all those who sit by and watch, “I hope you will…do what you can to make that world a better place. Because when I meet you --- and I will --- there will be a reckoning. There always is.”

A LAND OF PERMANENT GOODBYES is a captivating portrayal of the story of all refugees. Personally, this novel has given me a new understanding of refugees and a desire to act and share their story. With a realistic and empathetic outlook on humanity and basic human rights, this novel is one I strongly recommend to everyone.

[Shaye Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book — it’s a MUST in a young adult library. It was a difficult read because I know this stuff is reality for many people. But we need to understand these inside truths to have a better grasp on what is and isn’t happening. The story begins with Tareq in Syria (where his home was bombed) and follows him on his journey through Turkey and Greece. We witness the story from the viewpoint of “destiny” as narrator, which allows the reader to witness the chorus of voices ranging from the refugee to the “helpers” who come from all over the world to stand on the frigid shores of Greece, welcoming and ministering to all refugee survivors. There were dozens of little details that I was not completely aware of, including the many ways refugees (and their children!) are taken advantage of during the worst moments of their lives. Horrible, horrible examples were shared that disgusted me. But I’m still grateful to have a more well-rounded understanding of what has taken place (and of what is STILL happening, today). These people have experienced the worst nightmare possible and will never fully recover. Ever.

He didn’t want to stay another minute; the sea kept tormenting him. No matter how much he rattled his head, the memories were far stronger. They were all he could see. And the truth is, they will never fully fade. He will continue to have flashbacks and nightmares throughout his life. The memories will fill him, making him anxious. Some humans can shrug off stress better than others. But when your soul feels too much, that trauma makes a home in your heart. But it’s not a weakness or even an illness. To feel so much means you can find empathy–when you can sense the pain of others, that is a power to hold on to. That is a power that can change the world you live in. But it’s also a power that comes with burden and pain.

Tareq’s journey is painful, but powerful. There are moments of despair, but also of rejoicing. And I know these characters will stick with me for a long, long while. They are far too important to forget — both those who reached their destination AND those who were lost during the journey.

Much of what we learn about Middle East violence here in American comes through the filter of white journalism. This book offers a different perspective which is so important for young adults. Atia Abawi is a foreign news correspondent living in Jerusalem. She experiences much of this violence first hand and was raised by refugee Afghan parents. She really did her research for the various individual voices in this book (which is especially made evident in her acknowledgements). A Land of Permanent Goodbyes currently has at least three starred reviews (Kirkus, School Library Journal, and Publisher’s Weekly). I hope to see it making an appearance on the shelves of all my local libraries!

4-29-18 pre-review
I don’t yet have the words to express what this book did to me. Wow. I’m still letting it simmer before I write a review. But don’t let my processing deter you from going out and getting it. Like today! It’s a very important book for today’s youth (and adults, if they’ll read it). My heartfelt thanks to Atia Abawi for all the research involved in crafting such an important book!

[Nicole Means · Rating 5 out of 5]

Writing about current and controversial issues can be a daunting task, particularly portraying the situation without minimizing it, but not to minimize the situation, but Atia Abawi proves to be worthy of the task in her book, “A Land of Permanent Goodbyes.” Selecting “Destiny” as the narrator proved to be a brilliant strategy to recap historical details without disrupting the flow of the plot. Since Destiny has been around for an eternity, the reader is provided insight into the cyclical nature of humanity, “As generations pass, we forget our people have suffered.”
Abawi reminds us that, “At the will of war, they went from being doctors, lawyer, storekeepers, students, mothers, fathers, daughters, and sons to refugees, foreigners, freeloaders, terrorists, enemies. Labels that didn’t represent their true selves.“ The crisis in Syria will be studied for generations to come as the loss of fertile land (due to global warming?) and the government’s violent response to its people ultimately caused government forced millions of people to become refugees and then have to beg for acceptance around the world. The ruling Daesh are, in fact, are a group of ruthless thugs who hide behind “religious” rhetoric to spread their evil and use fear to assert authority. Many boys become brainwashed under the spell of the Daesh’s twisted ideology and feel a false sense of purpose to their lives, resulting in Syria becoming ground zero in which people are forced to live in squalor and suffer unimaginable indignities. Syria has become “the land of permanent goodbyes. “

Abawi asserts that she does not share the natural gift that some people seem to “have a knack for writing,” but I respectfully disagree with this claim. Many authors attempt to bring atrocities to light which often result in oversimplified renditions, and I commend Abawi for humanizing the Syrian people and celebrating the countless number of “helpers” who really strive to make our world a better place through the simplest of actions. My worn copy of “Land of Permanent Goodbyes” will have a permanent place in my personal library, and I hope this book will resonate with other readers as it did for me.