While the narrative focuses on the story of one girl’s horrifying journey from Syria to Sweden, an important theme throughout the text is the way in which small and seemingly insignificant events connect the entire world. For example, the story begins in Daraa. An agricultural city in the southwest of Syria, Daraa is likely to be an unfamiliar setting to many readers. But Daraa is not an isolated place. News from around the world begins to seep into the small city. Protests in Tunisia develop into an uprising, a popular protest movement which soon spreads across the Middle East. Though thousands of miles separate Doaa from Mohamed Bouazizi, the latter’s self-immolation reverberates around the world. Doaa’s urge to join the protests traces back directly to one man’s suicide.

As a result, there is the sense that Doaa’s life is interfacing with a wider cultural moment. Commonly known as the Arab Spring, this cultural moment crosses borders and brings disenfranchised populations into conflict with authoritarian leaders. The fact that it is a multi-national movement is important; Doaa needs to feel as though she is a part of something, as though her actions are having an effect.