Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. What factors characterize a modern civil war, and what causes might contribute to one? List any facts or ideas you have about the Syrian Civil War, based on what you’ve studied, read, or seen in media. What countries have been involved in the Syrian conflict, and how long has it lasted?

Teaching Suggestion: Tareq—the novel’s protagonist—is living in Syria when his home is bombed and some of his family members are killed. Tareq and his remaining family members are forced to flee Syria to create a better life. When introducing this text to the class with this prompt, small groups might work together to compile ideas and then share with the whole class. Depending on their understanding of the Syrian Civil War, students may find it beneficial to first explore these or similar resources before answering the questions.

• This 5-minute video explores the reasons behind the Syrian conflict. (Content Warning: wartime violence and graphic images)
• This article describes the Syrian Civil War and the countries that have contributed to the war in some way.