Wild Poppies by Haya Saleh

Wild Poppies

Haya Saleh

Levine Querido c/o Chronicle Books · Print & ebook · December 2, 2025

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Who it’s for
A tense, humane story of family, responsibility, and the risks facing two brothers amid war.
Themes
Syrian War and displacement, Family bonds and responsibility, Child recruitment into an armed group
Pacing
Mixed

About this book

NOW IN PAPERBACK! Two brothers fight to reunite amidst the turmoil of the Syrian War. Since the passing of their father, Omar has tried—and in his little brother Sufyan’s eyes, failed—to be the man of his family of Syrian refugees. As Omar waits in line for rations, longing for the books he left behind when his family fled their home, Sufyan explores more nontraditional methods to provide for his family.

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Ignoring his brother’s warnings, Sufyan gets more and more involved with a group that provides him with big rewards for doing seemingly inconsequential tasks. When the group abruptly gets more intense—taking Sufyan and other boys away from their families, teaching them how to shoot guns—Sufyan realizes his brother is right. But is it too late for Sufyan to get out of this? It’s left to the bookish Omar to rescue his brother and reunite his family. He will have to take charge and be brave in ways he has never dared to before. P R A I S E “Poignant.” —Foreword “Hauntingly hopeful.” —Kirkus “Powerful.” —School Library Connection

Brothers Under Pressure

A tense, humane story of family, responsibility, and the risks facing two brothers amid war.

Come here for

  • A close look at sibling loyalty under strain
  • A Syrian refugee family’s fight to stay together

Expect

  • Serious stakes, with hope threaded through hardship
  • A sustained story of courage and difficult choices

Where it sits

Sibling Stories60%
Immigration & Moving49%
War & Military Stories33%

Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.

Publisher categories

  • Sibling Stories
  • Stories Set in the Middle East
  • War & Military Stories
Authors
Haya Saleh
Publisher
Levine Querido c/o Chronicle Books
Published
December 2, 2025
Format
Print & ebook
Theme
Syrian War and displacement · Family bonds and responsibility · Child recruitment into an armed group
Reading lane
Sibling Stories