The Ocean Would Paint Me Blue: From The Author Of Global Sensation As Long As The Lemon Trees Grow

The Ocean Would Paint Me Blue by Zoulfa Katouh is a tender, sharply observed YA contemporary novel about grief, identity and finding your footing when everything feels newly unfamiliar. If you loved the emotional intensity of her writing in As Long As the Lemon Trees Grow, this story offers the same honesty, with a fresh setting and a quieter kind of suspense.

After her mother’s sudden death, Jihad starts at an exclusive high school hoping for a clean slate. Instead, she becomes the only Muslim student, singled out for her hijab, her name, and what others assume about her. One classmate offers kindness, but trust doesn’t come easily when the world keeps proving unpredictable. Her refuge becomes an old sketchbook, art-making, and the stories her mum once told—until those memories begin to open into something larger.

Perfect for readers who seek coming-of-age fiction, art school dreams, friendship stories, and thoughtful books about Islamophobia and resilience.

Add it to your basket and let Jihad’s story stay with you.