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Wild Poppies by Haya Saleh

Book

Wild Poppies

Haya Saleh

Levine Querido c/o Chronicle Books · Print & ebook · December 2, 2025

Reading lane: Stories Set in the Middle East

A Audiobook pick for readers exploring Wild Poppies.

At a Glance

Why This Clicks

Brothers Under Pressure

A tense, humane story of family, responsibility, and the risks facing two brothers amid war.

Come here for

  • A close look at sibling loyalty under strain
  • A Syrian refugee family’s fight to stay together

Expect

  • Serious stakes, with hope threaded through hardship
  • A sustained story of courage and difficult choices

Book Details

Authors
Haya Saleh
Publisher
Levine Querido c/o Chronicle Books
Published
December 2, 2025
Format
Print & ebook
Theme
Stories Set in the Middle East · Middle East for Teens
Reading lane
Stories Set in the Middle East

Affinity

Publisher Categories

  • Sibling Stories

  • Stories Set in the Middle East

  • JUVENILE FICTION / War & Military

About This Book

NOW IN PAPERBACK! Two brothers fight to reunite amidst the turmoil of the Syrian War. Since the passing of their father, Omar has tried—and in his little brother Sufyan’s eyes, failed—to be the man of his family of Syrian refugees. As Omar waits in line for rations, longing for the books he left behind when his family fled their home, Sufyan explores more nontraditional methods to provide for his family. Ignoring his brother’s warnings, Sufyan gets more and more involved wit...

Read full description

NOW IN PAPERBACK! Two brothers fight to reunite amidst the turmoil of the Syrian War. Since the passing of their father, Omar has tried—and in his little brother Sufyan’s eyes, failed—to be the man of his family of Syrian refugees. As Omar waits in line for rations, longing for the books he left behind when his family fled their home, Sufyan explores more nontraditional methods to provide for his family. Ignoring his brother’s warnings, Sufyan gets more and more involved with a group that provides him with big rewards for doing seemingly inconsequential tasks. When the group abruptly gets more intense—taking Sufyan and other boys away from their families, teaching them how to shoot guns—Sufyan realizes his brother is right. But is it too late for Sufyan to get out of this? It’s left to the bookish Omar to rescue his brother and reunite his family. He will have to take charge and be brave in ways he has never dared to before. P R A I S E “Poignant.” —Foreword “Hauntingly hopeful.” —Kirkus “Powerful.” —School Library Connection

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