Sumia Sukkar: The Boy from Aleppo who Painted the War (January 2024)

Sumia Sukkar is a writer of Syrian Algerian origins and this is her debut novel. It is written, mainly, from the perspective of Adam, a 14 year old with asperger syndrome and it opens at the start of the Syrian conflict. Adam tries to make sense of the unfolding chaos, death and bloodshed which he describes as “horrible and beautiful all at the same time” through his paintings. He particularly expresses his emotions through the use of colour and his artwork is vividly described.

For Adam, his family and, of course, the rest of the Syrian people, the war is an unfolding tragedy. They endure dreadful injury, loss and suffering, in particular his sister Yasmine, who holds the motherless family together. She is captured and subjected to brutal rape and torture that is all too usual in any conflict.

The battered, near-starving family have to leave the ruins of their home to try to find safety but they receive kindness and hospitality on their way, which is a welcome relief.

We found this book harrowing but, of course, given the subject matter, it is not a novel that is written for the reader to enjoy but to bear witness to their suffering.

The fact it concentrates on one family’s experience rather than the political background tells a timeless story of what happens to people caught up in all wars, no matter about the reasons or rights or wrongs of any conflict. It pulls no punches and the details of death and injuries are very graphically depicted. 
3/5