The color of the air

In his first YA novel, cultural journalist and author Abdo Wazen writes about a blind teenager in Lebanon who finds strength and friendship among an unlikely group. Growing up in a small Lebanese village, Basim’s blindness limits his engagement with the material taught in his schools. Despite the love and support of his family, his options seem limited. So at thirteen, Basim leaves his village to join the Institute for the Blind in a suburb of Beirut. There, he comes to life. He learns Braille and discovers talents he never knew he had. Basim is blessed with his newfound ability to read and write. With his newfound confidence, Basim decides to take a chance and submit a short story to a competition organized by the Ministry of Education. After winning the competition, he is hired at the Institute for the Blind. At the Institute, Basim, a Sunni Muslim, forms a strong friendship with George, a Christian. Collaboration and collective support are fundamental to the success of each student at the Institute, a principle that transcends religious differences. In the book, the Institute symbolizes the positive changes that tolerance can bring to the country and society at large.

The Color of the Air is also a book about Lebanon and its treatment of people with disabilities. It offers insights into the vital role of strong family support in individual success, the inner workings of institutions like the Institute, and the unique religious and cultural environment of Beirut.

Wazen’s clear language and the linear structure he uses result in a coherent and easy-to-read narrative. The Color of the Air is an important contribution to a literature in which people with disabilities are underrepresented. In addition to telling a story of empowerment and friendship, the book also aims to tell readers about people with disabilities and shed light on the important roles that institutions like the Institute play.