A 16 year-old boy, Anas, in a family where the father physically and emotionally abuses the mother, realized that he is old enough now to protect his mom, and his young sister (who sees the abuse and had been beaten a couple of times herself). Anas fears his father, has had his share of physical violence, and had always felt that this is a big secret, in a way that even his closest friends do not know about it; he tries not to let them notice anything abnormal in his family. His sole refuge to express his sadness and anger, is in writings in a diary, something he has been doing from a younger age. At times Anas succeeds to get his mom out of the house to the Abused Women Center. But she always decides to come back, having no other choices. His mom’s parents are not supportive of the idea of the mother leaving her home and husband, divorce being a taboo in some communities. On top of that, the husband forces her to quit her job at some point.
One day, a new girl, Leena, joins the yoga class Anas attends, and they become close friends, meeting for Cappuccino at a local café for long talks, and going out sometimes with other friends.
Leena also has issues in her family. They used to live in France, but since her father’s death they were forced by the uncle to move back to Lebanon. Leena with her mom and sister suffer from his authority but the law is against them (in the Lebanese the legislations related to civic issues is sectarian, and in one of the sects, when the father who has only daughters- no sons, it is his brother who inherits him, rather than his wife and daughters). Besides, the uncle puts pressure on the family to marry Leena’s older sister from his son.
Leena also feels no one should know about this misfortune they have to deal with.
Despite the closeness of Anas and Leena, they both succeed to keep their secrets from each other until, by chance, Leena meets Anas’ mom at the Abused Women Center with bruised swollen eyes (Leena’s mom volunteers there). That is when she decides to talk to Anas about her own issues, and to get him to talk about his problems, in the hope that they both will have to help their mothers to change their fate.
In the end, the legal solution for Anas’ mom is to put the husband under surveillance and out of the house for a month, and he only comes back under the terms of the wife. In Leena’s case, their solution is to leave everything (the inheritance and properties) to the uncle and leave to France again, where they will live of the life insurance of the deceased father, and where they have many friends that will help Leena’s mom to find a job.
The story is written from 2 points of view, Anas and Leena, alternating the voice by the chapter. The topic is serious but the style is pleasant and teens will relate to the two characters and their friends in the story.
This is an eye opener to young readers, showing them that violence is not acceptable and that they have a say in that, it is not in the hands of the abuser.
