100 pages • 3 hours read
Atia AbawiA Land of Permanent Goodbyes
Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2018A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Summary
Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Character Analysis
Themes
Symbols & Motifs
Important Quotes
Essay Topics
Tools
BetaSymbols & Motifs
The “Helpers”
The “helpers” are a dominant motif recurring throughout the book. The motif takes different forms, as many different people take on the role of helper throughout the narrative. There are also unnamed helpers, such as the Greek fishermen that Annis tells of, who take their boats out to search for refugees in the water. The motif of the “helpers” is concretely introduced with the Mr. Rogers quote that prefaces the book and it is carried through until the conclusion. It serves as an important reminder to the reader that, amidst the many dark moments in the narrative, there are also moments of light and hope. In a young adult novel that deals with such tough subjects—war, the refugee experience, rape, poverty—this motif encourages the reader to keep going. The reader’s journey thus, in a small way, parallels Tareq’s, as Tareq likewise finds hope when he starts to recognize the helpers around him.
Terry’s Jacket
Terry’s jacket serves as a tangible symbol for the motif of the helpers. A jacket is something that offers warmth and comfort. The note in the jacket pocket affirms the symbolic significance of this article of clothing, speaking to the fact that even people who are far away—like Sally Martin, in the United States—can be helpers. With the note, the jacket further represents the human desire to help. It also affirms that there are different ways of being helper, and some acts may seem insignificant. The jacket itself is nothing special: It’s old and ugly, made of lime-green wool, and has a musty smell. However, it is still able to keep someone warm—and, thanks to the note, offers emotional comfort. The humble symbol drives home the fact that even a small gesture can be significant. This is affirmed in Chapter 32, as Tareq recognizes the small gestures that make a difference—one man shares food, another offers a spot by a warm fire, and volunteers provide hot tea.
Farrah, the Doll
Four-year-old Susan names her doll Farrah, after her dead sister. The doll remains by her side throughout the little girl’s refugee journey. On one hand, the doll can be seen as a representation of the “ghosts” left behind in Syria—people who Tareq, Fayed, and Susan have had to say their permanent goodbyes to, such as Farah, Nour, Ameer and Sameer, and Tareq’s paternal grandmother. The doll’s constant presence suggests that the spirits of these “ghosts” are still with the family. On the other hand, the doll can be a representation of the resilience of the refugees. The doll, like the people it accompanies, survives a great deal of trauma, from the bombing of the house to the hazardous boat ride across the Aegean. The doll always makes it, however. In discussions of trauma, the term resilience refers to an individual's ability to overcome adversity and carry on. The physical resilience of the doll mirrors the emotional resilience of characters like Tareq, who persist in moving forward, trying not to let the nightmarish experiences of their pasts hold them hostage.
