The Map of Salt and Stars

Ever wondered if a map could tell the story of your heart? Imagine tracing your own journey of belonging and resilience alongside two young women separated by centuries, both navigating treacherous paths to find home in a world determined to displace them. Discover how their parallel stories—one a modern Syrian refugee, the other a medieval mapmaker's apprentice—intertwine across time. You'll explore the power of storytelling to preserve culture and family, learning how courage and hope can guide you through even the darkest of journeys.

Zeyn Joukhadar is a Syrian American author and a member of the Radius of Arab American Writers whose work explores themes of migration, memory, and belonging. A doctoral candidate in pathobiology, Joukhadar's background as a biomedical researcher informs his intricate storytelling, weaving together scientific precision with the rich tapestry of history and myth. This unique perspective allows him to map the complex emotional and physical journeys of his characters with profound insight, connecting the past to the present with lyrical and heartfelt prose.