Omar El Akkad's novel What Strange Paradise is championed by entrepreneur Tareq Hadhad on Canada Reads 2022. The book follows Amir, a 9-year-old Syrian refugee who is the lone survivor of a ship wreckage. The book alternates chapters between Amir's dangerous ocean voyage to his new reality on a tourist island that is hostile to him. Hadhad, who arrived in Canada as a refugee from Syria, tells El Akkad why he connected with this book so much he had to defend it on Canada Reads. The Canada Reads 2022 debates, hosted by Ali Hassan, take place March 28-31. Important note to teachers: This novel addresses mature themes. Please take the time to review any written or video content before sharing it in class, so that you can prepare your students as needed.

From the Curio.ca streaming audio-visual collection.