The Ocean Would Paint Me Blue by Zoulfa Katouh is my second book by her after As long as the lemon trees grow, and it is as poignant and hard hitting.This book explores grief and what it can do to a young mind. The story follows Jihad, a young 17-year-old Syrian girl who recently lost her mother and lives in America with her elder sister, Amal and their father. Jihad’s trauma and resilience form the crux of the story. What grief can do to a young mind, draining all its colours (literally and figuratively), and the courage it takes to fight back and bring back the lost colours is what this story is all about.
Jihad is endowed with blessings that brush the line between reality and magic. Generations of women in her family from her mother’s side were blessed. Her great-grandmother’s house in Syria had sunflowers all year round; her grandmother could catch clouds with her bare hands and squeeze water out of them; her grandmother’s sister could talk to trees; her mother spoke to everything that lived in the sea (especially jellyfish), and Jihad can see colours in everything around her. These scenarios are magical and lend the book an ethereal feel. The book has a magical, almost lyrical feel.
Deeply attached to her mother, after her death Jihad is severely affected and has a sudden loss of colour. The situation worsens for her as she faces bullying at school due to her way of dressing and name. Racial remarks make her days difficult, and school is not a happy place for her till she finds a good friend in her classmate, James. Slowly, her life starts getting back what it lost. She feels heard, loved and wanted – there is someone who hears her and understands her predicament without judgement. The book touches on sensitive topics such as bullying, racism, suspicion, judgement, and quiet hostility in a manner that evokes empathy.
This very well-written book traces Jihad and her predicament with sensitivity. The way she derives strength slowly and starts pursuing her art is heart-touching. Her relationships with her sister, father and childhood friend have their ups and downs, but the heartache of her mother stays – it is a source of both strength and weakness. How she fights and makes peace is beautifully depicted throughout.
The book is categorised as YA, but it is a very potent and meaningful read for anyone and everyone. It is like a beautiful coming-of-age story that blooms. The art, the colours and their significance were the highlight of the book, and their transformative power makes you want to look around yourself for inspiration and support. It’s easy to give up in a difficult situation when life throws challenges your way, but coming out stronger is what makes you YOU! Jihad, all of 17, teaches you that. I liked this brilliantly written, emotional story immensely. It certainly left a mark on me that will stay as a reminder to face challenges head-on and get back what rightfully belongs to me. This was my biggest takeaway from the novel.
Shipra Pande
As a Literature and Library Science graduate, I was always fascinated by the written word. Books have been my best friends forever! Passionate about reading and writing, book reviews are a fairly recent phenomenon. Sharing what I felt about a book I read serves as a finale to the process. I love playing word games, going on long walks, writing poetry in English and Hindi and creating Zentangle art. You can read my book reviews on Instagram