This image is the cover for the book Hope More Powerful Than the Sea

Hope More Powerful Than the Sea

The extraordinary true story of one teen refugee’s quest to find a new life—now adapted for young readers

A Hope More Powerful Than the Sea tells the story of Doaa Al-Zamel, a Syrian girl whose life was upended in 2011 by her country’s brutal civil war. She and her family escape to Egypt, but life soon quickly becomes dangerous for Syrians in that country. Doaa and her fiancé decide to flee to Europe to seek safety and an education, but four days after setting sail on a smuggler’s dilapidated fishing vessel along with five hundred other refugees, their boat is struck and begins to sink...

Doaa’s eye-opening story, as told by Melissa Fleming, represents the millions of unheard voices of refugees who risk everything in a desperate search for a safe future.

Melissa Fleming

Melissa Fleming is chief spokesperson for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). She travels to war zones and refugee camps to give voice to the millions of people forcibly displaced from their homes. She is frequently quoted in international media, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, CNN, and NPR. Her talks are featured on TED.com. She first told Doaa's story on the TED stage, which went on to be viewed over a million times. A Hope More Powerful Than the Sea is her first book.

Flatiron Books