The Ocean Would Paint Me Blue

Gr 7 Up–Katouh’s powerful sophomore novel delivers a searing portrait of a Syrian American teen navigating grief, identity, and systemic injustice in contemporary America. Seventeen-year-old Jihad Dabbagh is reeling from the sudden, violent death of her mother, which has robbed her not only of a parent but also of her ability to see color—a loss tied to her family’s generational magic. When her withdrawn father enrolls her at the elite Braxton Academy, Jihad must navigate a minefield of microaggressions, tokenism, and outright hostility from classmates whose progressive veneer masks dangerous prejudices. Katouh refuses to soften the realities of being Muslim in post-9/11 USA, rendering Jihad’s experiences with unflinching clarity. Her relationships with her father and older sister, Amal, pulse with authenticity as the family struggles to move forward. ­Magical realism, rooted in a maternal ­lineage of gifted women, adds lyrical depth without overwhelming the contemporary narrative. When Jihad discovers a ­sketchbook that turns her art into murals across New York City, it becomes both a conduit for grief and a celebration of her ­mother’s legacy. ­Vietnamese American Jamie ­Murphy emerges as a quiet but steady ally, offering support without ­diminishing Jihad’s agency. Her journey ­toward reclaiming her voice through art and activism is hard-won and deeply ­moving. ­Katouh’s prose captures the weight of ­systemic ­oppression and the fierce resilience it takes to survive. ­