The Heart of Aleppo

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

The Heart of Aleppo:
A Story of the Syrian Civil War
By Ammar Habib
YA Contemporary
Paperback & ebook, 252 Pages
July 26th 2018

Winner of the 2019 Independent Press Award
#1 Bestseller in “Coming-Of-Age” Fiction
#1 Bestseller in “Asian-American” Literature

From the ashes of the Syrian Civil War comes this story of hope, love, and courage…

After standing for over 7,000 years, Aleppo’s ruin came overnight. Separated from his family during the night the rebels attacked the city, thirteen-year-old Zaid Kadir is lost in the middle of a war zone. Alongside his friends, he is forced to survive the dangers of a civil war he does not even fully understand. Zaid witnesses the destruction of the brutal Syrian Civil War as it grows more deadly by the day and rips his city apart. However, as he braves this destruction, as he desperately tries to survive this catastrophe, he discovers something. Zaid realizes that it is in the darkest hours when humanity’s spirit of hope burns brightest.

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My Review

As with most war stories, the story told in The Heart of Aleppo is heartbreaking. Ammar Habib does a great job with the voice of a 13-year-old enduring the destruction of Aleppo during the Syrian Civil War. One of the things that impressed me was Habib’s ability to tell the story without including the politics of the war. It is truly a story of the spirit of humanity in difficult circumstances.

While it is a very sad story and hard to read in many ways, I was compelled to keep reading to find out what was coming next. Main character Zaid shows growth and maturity beyond that of most of the 13-year-olds I know – but then none of the 13-year-olds I know have had to face their home town being destroyed by war. 

I think The Heart of Aleppo would be a great addition to a current events unit or Middle East study. This young adult novel should be read by today’s teens to help them better understand the world we live in as well as a glimpse of Muslim beliefs. 

I would not hesitate to add The Heart of Aleppo to my k-12 Christian school library. 

I want to thank Prism Book Tours for the complimentary copy of The Heart of Aleppo. This is my honest review. 

About the Author

Ammar Habib is a bestselling and award-winning author who was born in Lake Jackson, Texas in 1993. Ammar enjoys crafting stories that are not only entertaining but will also stay with the reader for a long time. Ammar presently resides in his hometown with his family, all of whom are his biggest fans. He draws his inspiration from his family, imagination, and the world around him.

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Tour Schedule

Tour Giveaway

One winner will receive a signed copy of Habib’s national award-winning novel, Memories of My Future (US only). Memories of My Future is an historical/inspirational novel that was published in 2016. It received several accolades after its release, including the Independent Press Award in May 2017.

Ends November 13, 2019

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