A Hope More Powerful Than the Sea

In Egypt, Bassem and Doaa fall in love. How does this happen? Is it immediate? How does their refugee status affect their love?

Doaa and her family are very close. How does her love for her family support her? How does she support her family?

How does the book use contemporary global events to provide a context for Doaa’s journey? In what ways do these global events explicitly affect her life.

The narrative voice of the book sees the world from Doaa’s perspective. Occasionally, however, it uses facts and statistics as context for her journey. How does the authorial voice change throughout the course of the narrative?

Doaa has both older and younger sisters. In what ways does she provide support for her siblings? How do they express their love?

Violence is a common motif throughout the text. What is the symbolic meaning of the various instances of violence portrayed throughout the novel?

Doaa’s journey is a search for purpose in a complex and threatening world. Describe this journey. Doaa ever find her purpose?

The book opens with a scene from the end of the narrative. Describe the scene. In what ways does this structural decision affect the telling of Doaa’s story?