The ocean would paint me blue by Zoulfa Katouh

Jihad is the name of the central character. It means ‘a struggle to become the best version of yourself. To overcome obstacles. To be strong. To dream despite it all. To survive. To live’. Katouh’s novel is the story of how New York school girl Jihad endeavours to live up to her name, despite persecution by others who only see an enemy.

Jihad’s world has lost all its colours, following the death of her mother, the marriage and departure of her older sister, and the withdrawal of her father into depression. But her dream is to complete school, go to the Opus School of Art and become an artist. Jihad has been born with a ‘blessing’, she can see the colours that make up the soul of a person, words splash her world in colour, and she can taste the colours. After her mother’s death, her world turns grey and only slowly do the colours begin to return.

As a hijabi, Jihad is an obvious target for anti-Muslim hate and bullying. She is enrolled in a prestigious school for her final year, in the hope of improving her chances for an art scholarship, and finds herself alone, the focus of insidious bullying that increases in intensity to the point of serious physical assault. The school principal fails to support her in the most appallingly way. Jihad knows that there is no help, she just has to endure, keep turning up, and refuse to be a victim.  Fortunately there is one friend, the new boy Jamie, who offers her care and respect.

Katouh’s description of Jihad’s suffering is deeply moving, and raises awareness of how isolating and scary bullying can be. She also exposes Islamophobia for what it is, racism based on a false stereotype, ignorant about Islam and the life of a Muslim. Readers learn that women in Islam were able to own property, have the right to their inheritance, get higher education, work and control their wages, long before their Western sisters were able to. America has its share of domestic violence and ‘honour killings’, women killed by abusive exes when they try to leave. Katouh provides insight into the importance of personal modesty and prayer in the Muslim faith. The character Jihad stays strong in her beliefs, steadfast and determined; she is a powerful example of resilience.

Zoulfa Katouh is the award-winning and bestselling author of the novel ‘As long as the lemon trees grow’ (2022). This, her second novel, 'The ocean would paint me blue' is an equally enthralling and rewarding read, combining authentic experience with elements of magic realism in way that promises to be enjoyed by both YA and older readers.

Themes: Islamophobia, Bullying, Grief, Resilience, Art.

Helen Eddy