In the Country I Love by Alaa Al-Barkawi

IN THE COUNTRY I LOVE by Alaa Al-Barkawi

Distance is never an effective escape route. No one needs to be told that, to avoid a situation that is too hurtful or demanding, the easiest course is to move as far away as possible from the source of the pain. Yet, distance is a force of nature—a conscious essence—that one cannot control. Unfortunately, it heightens life's intensity. In the Country I Love, a fierce and violent debut by Alaa Al-Barkawi, explores the lives of two teenage boys, Yassir and Khaled, and Kawther, Khaled’s older sister, in their journey as adolescents living within the Iraqi Shia Muslim diaspora and the heartbreak that comes with familial and religious pressure, including generational trauma, which captures the anguish of distance that each character is posited to endure. 

In the Country I Love revolves around four POVs: Yassir, Khaled, Kawther, and the Sky. Each of these four POVs is interwoven with one another, jumping around between two timelines, where the present covers the hate crime and anti-Muslim hate that Yassir experiences, and also the past, where we find out more background about the relationships and tensions that the three characters face, leading to the strains they face with one another. Throughout the novel, the Sky remains an observer, offering heartbreaking perspectives on the characters from above.

Yassir Al-Azzawi and Khaled Al-Hakim’s families were once very close. Rather than friends, both treated each other like family. Past afflictions separated the family, eventually distancing everyone, including Yassir and Khaled. Yet, that separation isn't enough to sever their friendship—Yassir and Khaled stick together and keep it a secret. As the family's star, Khaled remains sharp-witted and has no room for complacency. However, Yassir is the complete opposite of Khaled: a fearful, craven 17-year-old single dad. On the other side is Kawther, the estranged daughter who endures the rifts in her family, disconnected from Khaled and their parents to protect her inner peace.

After Khaled and Kawther go back to Iraq and participate in the Arbaeen walk, Khaled comes back to the United States with an injured Yassir, who was hospitalized after being a victim of the "Kill-a-Muslim Day" rampage. We learn why Khaled and Kawther's family have gone no contact with Yassir's, despite creating strong bonds as refugees from Iraq. In the Country I Love balances the unique stories of abuse, family estrangement, teen parenting, and faith crisis.

Yassir, Khaled, and Kawther's lives were filled with strenuous challenges, heartache, and the raw reality of life, and I could visibly feel the weight holding these characters down. The conversations about Islamophobia were poignant, which is already rarely highlighted in our society, and ended up bringing so much light into the hostility and tolerance of people who stay as observers towards hate that is right in front of us.

Throughout reading In the Country I Love, I could not help but think of the phrase, "It always starts as a joke," because any form of discrimination truly does begin as a snicker, a lowly decision that ripples into more negative outcomes than we can ever imagine. Islamophobia is easily dismissed by many people, and the world needs to continue to shed light not only on the challenges of Shia Muslims but also the beauty of celebrating this community, as it opens doors into silenced narratives. In In the Country I Love, Alaa Al-Barkawi shows how we conform to Whiteness, starting with the people around us. Complacency is never an option, and Alaa Al-Barkawi doesn't shy away from it. To distance oneself from the pain and anguish of discrimination will only sustain and rip the wound farther and deeper.

This is an outstanding debut, and if I could recommend any book, it would be In the Country I Love. This is easily the best book I’ve read so far this year. No page disappoints, and every turn builds endless anticipation. I can't wait for Alaa Al-Barkawi's next work! 

Thank you so much to Peachtree Teen for sending a physical galley in exchange for an honest review! 

IN THE COUNTRY I LOVE by Alaa Al-Barkawi was published on May 26, 2026 by Peachtree Teen.

Review by Akira Park; edited by Hannah Martian.