As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of mental illness.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. The novel uses magical realism to portray Salama’s mental struggles through manifestations of Khawf (fear) and hallucinations of her sister-in-law, Layla. Did you find this approach effective in conveying the psychological impacts of living in a war zone? Why or why not?

2. What moments in the novel did you find most powerful or memorable, and why?

3. In what ways does this novel compare to other young adult books about war and displacement, such as Elizabeth Wein’s Code Name Verity or Alan Gratz’s Refugee?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Salama struggles with the decision to leave Syria, torn between her duty to help at the hospital and her promise to protect Layla. Have you ever faced a seemingly impossible choice between competing responsibilities? How did you navigate it?

2. What healthy coping strategies have you found effective during times of stress or anxiety, similar to Salama’s recitation of medicinal plant properties?

3. What would you describe as your relationship with your home country or place of origin? How did this impact your experience of the novel?

4. Salama’s moral compass shifts when she uses Samar as leverage to secure passage out of Syria. Have you ever compromised your values in a difficult situation? How did you reconcile this with your sense of self afterward?

5. Why do you think extreme circumstances often affect human connections, as with the romance between Salama and Kenan?

6. The characters rely heavily on faith to endure hardship, often saying phrases like “Insha’Allah” (God willing). What role does faith or hope play in your approach to difficult situations?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. The novel portrays the tension between collectivism (staying to fight for Syria) and individualism (leaving to ensure personal survival). Where do you see this tension manifesting in other social or political contexts today?

2. In what ways have social media and citizen journalism changed how we understand global crises like the one Kenan documents?

3. What aspects of Syrian culture portrayed in the novel were new to you, and how did they enhance your understanding of the conflict? How does this novel’s approach compare to others covering the same time period, such as Christy Lefteri’s The Beekeeper of Aleppo?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. Consider Khawf’s character development throughout the novel. What is his ultimate purpose in Salama’s journey?

2. What makes the lemon trees and other symbols effective in conveying the novel’s themes of hope and resilience, and how do they tie into the book’s title?

3. The revelation that Layla was a hallucination marks a significant turning point in the narrative. How does this twist affect your understanding of Salama’s character and mental state?

4. Which key moments catalyze Salama’s growth from a fearful pharmacy student to someone willing to risk her life at protests?

5. What emotional impact does the novel’s frequent use of “might” lives—alternative futures that could have existed without the war—create for readers?

6. The Epilogue shows Salama and Kenan building a new life in Toronto while maintaining connections to Syria. What does this ending reveal about the novel’s themes of identity, home, and healing?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. If you were to write an additional chapter set five years after the Epilogue, what do you imagine Salama, Kenan, Lama, and Yusuf would be doing?

2. Choose another character (Kenan, Dr. Ziad, Khawf, etc.) and describe how a key scene might have appeared from their point of view.

3. Salama and Kenan collaborate on books that combine her stories with his animations. Imagine a story they might create together that incorporates their experiences. What themes would it explore, and what message would it convey to readers?

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