Atia Abawi is a foreign news correspondent who was stationed for almost five years in Kabul, Afghanistan. She was born to Afghan parents in West Germany and was raised in the United States. Her first book for teens was the powerful The Secret Sky, about forbidden romance between different ethnic tribes in Afghanistan. She currently lives in Jerusalem with her husband, Conor Powell, and their son, Arian. You can follow her on Twitter @AtiaAbawi.
Praise for A Land of Permanent Goodbyes As discussed on NPR's Morning Edition! Featured as a most-anticipated book of 2018 on The Huffington Post, BN Teen Blog, and in Kirkus Reviews! From award-winning journalist Abawi comes an unforgettable novel that brings readers face to face with the global refugee crisis . . . A heartbreaking, haunting, and necessary story that offers hope while laying bare the bleakness of the world. --Kirkus Reviews, starred review Abawi skillfully places humanity enmeshed in war into two sides: the 'hunters' who feed on the suffering and the 'helpers' who lend a hand. An inspiring, timely, and must-have account about the Syrian refugee disaster and the perils of all wars. --School Library Journal, starred review [A] gripping and heartrending novel . . . [and an] upsetting yet beautifully rendered portrayal of an ongoing humanitarian crisis. --Publishers Weekly, starred review [A] heartbreaking and to-the-minute timely story of the Syrian refugee crisis. Abawi gives even more humanity, depth, and understanding to the headlines. --Bustle An incredibly important read. --HelloGiggles As author Atia Abawi artfully illustrates, refugees are created by circumstances that can happen anywhere. A perfect companion novel to Alan Gratz's Refugee, this humanizing, often harrowing and sometimes transcendent novel fosters compassion and understanding. --BookPage, Top Teen Pick [T]his could be paired with Sepetys' book . . . Salt to the Sea, for a multi-era look at the casualties of war. --The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books This is a harrowing and vitally important novel about an ongoing crisis. Tareq's story will linger with readers long after they've turned the final page. --Bookish A Land of Permanent Goodbyes is an engrossing, heartbreaking story of survival, giving readers an authentic glimpse of the suffering and destruction in Syria. --Voice of Youth Advocates A well-written, well-researched book. --School Library Connection This touching read will stir empathy and compassion about the harrowing plight of refugees. Abawi . . . helps give perspective on how religion can be used to help create a world where the most basic human rights are violated. --Booklist