Roots of the Banyan Tree - by Kathryn Silver-Hajo (Paperback)

About the Book

Silver-Hajo's debut novel paints an unforgettable portrait of the life of young protagonist, Noor, as she navigates the dangers of civil war in her native Lebanon and the challenges of life in the diaspora in the New York City of the 1970s

Book Synopsis

Kathryn Silver-Hajo's debut novel paints an unforgettable portrait of the life of young protagonist, Noor, as she navigates the dangers of civil war in her native Lebanon and the challenges of life in the diaspora in the New York City of the 1970s. Silver-Hajo deftly portrays the tragedy of a country torn apart by sectarian conflict, but also the excitement of the teenaged narrator's coming-of-age adventures. But when her mother reveals a closely-held secret, Noor is shaken, yet wiser and more determined than ever to define her place in the world. The characters and events that animate Roots of the Banyan Tree promise to burrow deep in readers' hearts and refuse to be forgotten.

Review Quotes

Vivid, compelling and beautifully told, this story of a half Palestinian Christian, half Lebanese Muslim girl growing up during the Lebanese Civil War deftly interweaves the special complexities of Middle Eastern life and identity with the crushes and excitement of any girl's adolescence. Perfect for mother-daughter book clubs and for classrooms, Roots of the Banyan Tree is also perfect for young people, period. I feel sure it will find its ways into the hands - and hearts - of many readers. Highly recommended.

-Gish Jen, author of Thank You, Mr. Nixon and The Resisters

Kathryn Silver-Hajo's Noor Haddad al-Husayni is a wonderful heroine-open, honest and just discovering herself as a woman and political being. With straightforward simplicity, Roots of the Banyan Tree tells a complex yet universal coming of age story of a young person struggling to find a place not only in the wider world but within her own family.

-Stewart O'Nan, author of City of Secrets

Roots of the Banyan Tree transports us to 1970s Beirut during the Civil War where we find ourselves on Hamra Street walking past restaurants and people in bell bottoms, giving contemporary Beirutis a special brand of nostalgia, a peek into a place that is no longer recognizable. The story describes love and friendship as they bloom in the volatile streets or between the branches of a Banyan tree of Beirut, or in New York, where the protagonist is forced to go to flee the war. Written for a western audience but also appealing to young adults everywhere, this story takes the reader on an adventure through the eyes of a young, observant protagonist who confronts monumental challenges with courage and determination.

-Rima Rantisi, founding editor, Rusted Radishes: Beirut Literary and Art Journal

A coming-of-age story that brings to life the pathos and humor of adolescence, set against the backdrop of Beirut and New York in the 1970s. Any young reader who has experienced the emotional turbulence of living in between cultures will recognize themselves in Noor, the charming protagonist.

-Elias Muhanna, Assoc. Prof., Comparative Literature and History, Brown University