Dear World: A Syrian Girl’s Story of War and Plea for Peace

Bana Alabed was born in Aleppo, Syria in 2006. She had a normal, happy, childhood spent swimming at the local pool and playing at the park. She loved her large extended family. This book is co-written by Bana and her mother, showing what happened to their family when the war began in Syria and throughout the horrific bombing of Aleppo.

This book is guaranteed to break your heart. Only age eight when this book was published, Bana describes the horrors of war with the simplicity of a child who should never have had to experience the things she describes. However, even though she talks about bombings and the death of friends and disfigurement of her uncle, the book is not written in a nightmarish fashion. The book is permeated with a longing for Syria to be peaceful again, for people to notice what’s happening and try to help. The passages from Bana’s mother express sadness that Bana went through the traumatic experiences she did but also pride that she handled things with strength and hope.

This book provides a wonderful insight into the humanity all people share. It can help bring about understanding and should be required reading for everyone.