Nour's Secret Library
In a beautiful city torn apart by the ugliness of war, Nour and her cousin dream of a safe space where they can feed their imaginations. This evocative picture book by a Lebanese writer and a Romanian illustrator is inspired by the true Syrian story of Daraya’s secret library that brought hope to its citizens.
Mintzi deftly depicts the gracious architecture, iconic white doves, and fragrant fruit trees of Damascus prior to the frightening outbreak of civil war. Vivid turquoise blues and sandy yellows soon become encroached by the drab grey of ruined cityscapes. As refuge is sought underground, the text descends. Drawing on personal experiences of conflict in Lebanon and communist Romania, the emotive words and contrasting illustrations synch perfectly to tell a courageous story. The rough charcoal of rubble is juxtaposed with thick, bright gouache as the children take on a special project conserving cultures by salvaging books, and with the birth of the Al-Fajr Library signalling a new dawn.
The power of reading is conveyed by Mintzi’s superimposed images against a blue backdrop illustrating the kaleidoscope of wonder, magic and knowledge contained in books. Detailed author’s notes, a glossary, map, and factoids are included at the back of the book. This positive story belongs on library shelves. It celebrates how bibliotherapy can lift the human spirit.
