Written by Zoulfa Katouh
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
978-0316351942
368 pp.
Ages 12+
June 2026
This guest review was written by Laura Krause.
A Powerful Read for Any Age
YA fantasy is a genre that can be looked down upon or dismissed as marginal or insignificant. The Ocean Would Paint Me Blue by Zoulfa Katouh is proof that this genre can be nuanced, elevated, and beautifully written.
This story of The Ocean Would Paint Me Blue follows a teen girl named Jihad who, in her high school senior year, is enrolled at a prestigious school by her father and sister. She is told that it will be an important step in securing her a coveted spot at her dream university. However, coming shortly after the death of her mother and being the only Muslim in a school of predominantly rich, white students, the transition is a tough one for Jihad. Sadly, her final year is overwhelmed by devastating bullying and abuse largely spurred by prejudice.
One bright light for Jihad in a school where she is bullied is her friendship with Jamie. As the main character, Jihad is brave, resilient, creative, and funny, but Jamie, who is probably my favourite book character from any book I’ve read this year, is a ray of hope and sunshine in an often heavy and emotionally charged story. He becomes her closest confidant and provides a lifeline for both Jihad and the reader during the most turbulent and hard-to-read sections of this novel. I became so attached to this supporting character, a Muslim convert who’d been raised by his Vietnamese grandmother, that I often annotated my review text with, “Why is Jamie so great?” and “Everyone needs a Jamie.” The Jamies in this world are those that help you through hard times and when you’re struggling to find your own voice.
As I read about the bullying that Jihad experiences, I had two very strong and different reactions. First, I wondered how teenagers could be so horrible and how could the adults be so terrible at protecting and advocating for all students. My second reaction was that I was actually not that surprised. Given the current political climate of the world, I could easily see this happening. Because bullying, whether racially motivated or otherwise, has always been a big problem for teens, this novel will resonate with them. Zoulfa Katouh does a phenomenal job at demonstrating that it is not the responsibility of the victims of bullying to educate those around them, because too often their pleas for help go unanswered. It is the responsibility of those with privilege to fight for those who have none. Onus is on the oppressor, not the oppressed.
This story of The Ocean Would Paint Me Blue follows a teen girl named Jihad who, in her high school senior year, is enrolled at a prestigious school by her father and sister. She is told that it will be an important step in securing her a coveted spot at her dream university. However, coming shortly after the death of her mother and being the only Muslim in a school of predominantly rich, white students, the transition is a tough one for Jihad. Sadly, her final year is overwhelmed by devastating bullying and abuse largely spurred by prejudice.
One bright light for Jihad in a school where she is bullied is her friendship with Jamie. As the main character, Jihad is brave, resilient, creative, and funny, but Jamie, who is probably my favourite book character from any book I’ve read this year, is a ray of hope and sunshine in an often heavy and emotionally charged story. He becomes her closest confidant and provides a lifeline for both Jihad and the reader during the most turbulent and hard-to-read sections of this novel. I became so attached to this supporting character, a Muslim convert who’d been raised by his Vietnamese grandmother, that I often annotated my review text with, “Why is Jamie so great?” and “Everyone needs a Jamie.” The Jamies in this world are those that help you through hard times and when you’re struggling to find your own voice.
As I read about the bullying that Jihad experiences, I had two very strong and different reactions. First, I wondered how teenagers could be so horrible and how could the adults be so terrible at protecting and advocating for all students. My second reaction was that I was actually not that surprised. Given the current political climate of the world, I could easily see this happening. Because bullying, whether racially motivated or otherwise, has always been a big problem for teens, this novel will resonate with them. Zoulfa Katouh does a phenomenal job at demonstrating that it is not the responsibility of the victims of bullying to educate those around them, because too often their pleas for help go unanswered. It is the responsibility of those with privilege to fight for those who have none. Onus is on the oppressor, not the oppressed.
I’m reminded that much prejudice is rooted in ignorance. For example, if her classmates had learned why Jihad wears a hijab, their negative stereotypes might have been dispelled. In contrast, I was struck by the beauty of Jihad’s Syrian background, specifically the food and culture. With her friend Jamie having a Vietnamese connection, I now look forward to trying the numerous Syrian and Vietnamese dishes discussed, having learned much about these two cultures including their languages and history. It’s unfortunate that her classmates could not have given Jihad the same regard.
What distinguishes the story of The Ocean Would Paint Me Blue is that it is not only a story of bullying, but also a gorgeous work of magical realism. This sub-genre of fantasy, to which I was only recently introduced, is hard to write well. But Zoulfa Katouh writes it beautifully, making the story sing. Jihad’s mother could speak to jellyfish, and Jihad, herself a true artist, creates magical murals around the city. These whimsical brushes with the unexplained and the fantastic become powerful tools in Zoulfa Katouh’s hands, elevating the messages at the core of the book, drawing the reader in to Jihad’s story.
This novel is in the top three books I have read this year, and I am so grateful I was provided a copy for the purposes of this review. I now need to go pick up the author’s first novel, the award-winning As Long As the Lemon Trees Grow (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2022). Our world needs more of Zoulfa Katouh’s profoundly emotional stories, which she tells with skill and heart.
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~ Laura Krause (or LauraK483 as she is known online) is an aspiring book editor with a background in live theatre. She obtained her BFA in Theatre Production and Design from York University, and a master’s degree in Stage and Event Management from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. She is currently completing the Editorial Skills program at George Brown Polytechnic. When she isn't working or reading, she is likely streaming video games on her Twitch channel or planning her next TTRPG project.
