Two Iraqi American best friends—a struggling teen father and the community's golden boy—confront dark truths about their families in the wake of a devastating crime in this heartrending YA debut.
On Sale May 26, 2026
A heartrending and unforgettable novel written with texture and profundity, this debut is the next great read that fans of Sabaa Tahir’s All My Rage (2022) and Tahereh Mafi’s An Emotion of Great Delight (2021) have been waiting for.
—Booklist (starred review)
Al-Barkawi leads with a strong setup: flawed characters dealing with family tensions, lapsed religious observance, and the increase in institutionalized Islamophobia. The taut writing pulls readers in, and the surprise reveal is utterly devastating. The author explores the atrocities of the Iraq War in raw and unflinching ways. . . . A gripping debut about generational trauma that mirrors many present realities.
—Kirkus Reviews
A textured exploration of Shia Muslim life in the United States and the pressures facing immigrant youth. Recommended for all collections.
—School Library Journal
Meet the Author
Alaa Al-Barkawi is a first-generation, Iraqi-American Shia Muslim writer. Alaa’s novels center around messy Iraqi characters navigating complicated family dynamics, Shia faith, weighty responsibilities, and culture. While her stories mostly take place in contemporary worlds, she infuses speculative twists with unexpected narrators inspired by Iraqi heritage and Islamic elements.
Her young adult debut novel, IN THE COUNTRY I LOVE, will be published on May 26, 2026 with Peachtree Teen.
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