Feb 11, 2024 
What Strange Paradise by Omar El Akkad is a beautifully written and profoundly moving novel that brings the global refugee crisis to life through the eyes of a child. The story unfolds on a small island where more bodies have washed up on the shores. Among the desperate passengers, a nine-year-old Syrian boy named Amir survives the perilous journey. He is rescued by Vanna, a teenage girl native to the island but feeling her sense of homelessness.
Despite their language barrier, Vanna is determined to save Amir. The novel alternates between Amir’s past and their journey toward safety, exploring themes of empathy, indifference, hope, and despair. “What Strange Paradise” is a poignant exploration of a hostile world seen through the innocence of two children.
What Strange Paradise By Omar El Akkad Book Info:
- Publisher: Knopf
- Published: July 20, 2021
- ISBN: 9780525657903
- Pages: 192
- Size: 1.83
