Homes

In 2010, the al Rabeeah family left their home in Iraq in hope of a safer life. They moved to Homs, in Syria just before the Syrian civil war broke out.

Abu Bakr, one of eight children, was 10years old when the violence began on the streets around him: car bombings, attacks on his mosque and school, firebombs late at night. Homes tells of the strange juxtapositions of growing up in a war zone: horrific, unimaginable events punctuated by normalcy soccer, cousins, video games, friends.

Homes is the remarkable true story of how a young boy emerged from a war zone and found safety in Canada with a passion for sharing his story and telling the world what is truly happening in Syria. As told to her by Abu Bakr al Rabeeah, writer Winnie Yeung has crafted a heartbreaking, hopefuland urgently necessary book that provides a window into understanding Syria. (From Freehand Books)

Homes was a finalist for the 2018 Governor General's Literary Award for nonfiction.

Homes byAbu Bakr al Rabeeah&Winnie Yeungwas defended by Chuck Comeauon Canada Reads 2019.

Watch the book trailer

Abu Bakr al Rabeeah & Winnie Yeung on why we need to understand the refugee experience

6 years ago

Duration 3:52

In this special Canada Reads 2019 edition of the CBC Books' video series, the co-authors of Homes talk about how caring for others is a part of our shared humanity.

• The best Canadian nonfiction of 2018
• Abu Bakr al Rabeeah, teenage refugee from Syria, tells his story with help from his teacher Winnie Yeung
• 12 Canadian books to read to commemorate Remembrance Day
• Syrian refugee and his ESL teacher turn writing exercise into literary nomination
• Why teenage refugee Abu Bakr al Rabeeah and teacher Winnie Yeung wrote about his family's life in Syria
• 20 books you could give your mom on Mother's Day
• 13 Canadian memoirs to read this summer

Collaborating on Homes

Abu Bakr al Rabeeah:"[Sharing my stories] was a great experience. Nothing was really hard for me. It wasn't like reliving hard times or hard memories. It was just telling about my past. I was so proud of it. By telling stories to Ms. Yeung, I learned a lot of stuff that happened to me that I didn't realize. For example, not being able to go out for soccer or with friends that taught me how to be a patient person. Not having things I wanted because of the circumstances, that taught me to enjoy the small things I had."

The book isn't just about the war. The book is about family.- co-authorWinnieYeung

Winnie Yeung:"The book isn't just about the war. The book is about family. What I was so inspired by is how this family held together, their resiliency.That's what I wanted to highlight was love and this sense of togetherness that I was so touched by."

Abu Bakr al Rabeeah:"I hope readers [walk away]knowinghow similar we are,how we have the same things, even though we are from countriesfar apart. When I first came to school [in Canada], some of my friends asked me, 'Do you guys have chairs back in Syria? Do you have schools?' These kinds of question led me to telling my story. The other thing [I hope people learn from the book] is that, yes we went through a lot of bad stuff, a lot of problems.But we still had a good life there. There are still people who arehappy living in Syria."

Read more from Abu Bakr al Rabeeah and Winnie Yeung's interview with CBC Books.

• Read an excerpt from Homes

From the book

Interviews withAbu Bakr al Rabeeah & Winnie Yeung

The Candy Palmater Show13:22How one teacher helped a teenage refugee tell his story

Winnie didn't imagine at first that she would write a novel based on Syrian refugee Abu Bakr al-Rabeeah's life, but that's exactly what happened. Homes, a novel based on her student's story, has topped the bestseller list in Edmonton.

Joe Zee & Chuck Comeau discuss Homes

5 years ago

Duration 0:41

On Day Two of Canada Reads, Joe Zee and Chuck Comeau discussed why the memoir Homes by Abu Bakr al Rabeeah with Winnie Yeung had a powerful impact on them.

Chuck Comeau about the type of stories we need right now

5 years ago

Duration 1:27

Chuck Comeau on Day Four of Canada Reads 2019

Why Chuck Comeau chose Homes for Canada Reads

"Imagine a childhood filled with bombs, attacks, bullets and dead bodies. That is the life that 10-year-old Abu Bakr lived in Syria, until he escaped to Canada. In this scary moment in our collective history, where fear and hatred have become normalised, Homes is essential reading.

In this scarymoment in our collective history, where fear and hatred have become normalised,Homesis essential reading.- Chuck Comeau

"This incredible memoir will make you more compassionate and profoundly grateful that you and your children don't have to fall asleep to the sound of machine guns at night. And it will make you very proud to be from there this incredible country that brought Bakr here, ans his family, with open arms."

Read more in Chuck Comeau's interview with CBC.

Chuck Comeau on Homes

About Chuck Comeau

ChuckComeauand his bandmates formed Simple Plan in 1999. The band has sold over 15 million albums and performed in more than 70 countries around the world. Early on,they started the Simple Plan Foundation, which raises money for charitable causes devoted to helping young people in need from suicide prevention, to poverty, mental health awareness, musical education and drug addiction.

TheCanada Reads2019 contenders

• Chuck Comeau, defendingHomesbyAbu Bakral RabeeahandWinnie Yeung
• Lisa Ray, defendingBrotherbyDavidChariandy
• Ziya Tong, defendingBy Chance AlonebyMax Eisen
• Yanic Truesdale, defendingSuzannebyAnas Barbeau-Lavalette, translated byRhonda Mullins
• Joe Zee, defendingThe Woo-WoobyLindsay Wong