Dounia and the Magic Seeds

By Marya Zarif, Yvette Ghione (Translator)

A girl flees war with magic seeds, facing danger on a quest for safety.

4.1/5 Goodreads · 84 ratings

32 pages

$18.95Save 5%

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Bookroo's summary

Dounia, a young girl from Aleppo, escapes war with her grandparents, guided by a prophecy of a blue house. Armed with four magical baraké seeds, she confronts perilous waters, barbed wire camps, and hostile soldiers. Each seed offers protection against the threats they encounter, leading them closer to their foretold sanctuary. Will the seeds' magic be enough to ensure their survival and reach the promised refuge? Dounia's journey is a testament to courage and the power of hope in the face of adversity.

From the publisher

When fleeing her war-ravaged home, a young girl brings four magic seeds to help her family on their difficult journey Dounia loves her home in Aleppo, Syria, and all of its wonderful smells, sights, and traditions. But when war breaks out, Dounia and her grandparents must flee their home to find safety. Before they go, their neighbor reads their future in a cup of coffee and sees a long, difficult journey ahead, and a blue house waiting at the end. With only a bird carved from Aleppo soap and four little baraké seeds in her pocket, Dounia and her family face dangerous waters, a camp surrounded by barbed wire, and unfriendly soldiers. Remembering the ancient knowledge that baraké seeds ward off evil, Dounia pulls one from her pocket to use for each of the threats her family faces. Magically, the seeds help the family along their way, until they finally find the blue house prophesied by their neighbor. Elegant, eye-catching artwork beautifully illustrates one young girl’s strength and resilience as she takes an active part in her own destiny.

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