Saving Stella

Life for musician Bassel and his dog Stella in Damascus, Syria, is full of bombs toppling buildings and sharp blasts of gunfire through the night. When it becomes too dangerous for him to stay, Bassel makes the courageous decision to escape, leaving his family, friends—and Stella—behind.

After a long, difficult journey, Bassel lands safely in Belgium, but misses his family, his home, and Stella. His parents chose to remain in Damascus, but with the help of friends in his new home, Bassel hatches a dramatic plan to rescue his beloved dog.

This remarkable, true story will inspire readers and remind them that even amid the harshest circumstances of war, acts of kindness and humanity will always endure.

About the Authors

Bassel Abou Fakher is a musician from Damascus, Syria. Having learned to play cello as a young child, he went on to study music in his home city. He released two albums, one in Syria and one in Brussels, with his own Qotob chamber music group. After living through the Syrian civil war for five years, Bassel moved to Brussels, Belgium, at the age of eighteen where he currently lives and plays his music.

Deborah Blumenthal is an award-winning journalist and the author of twenty-three books for adults and children. Her thirteen picture books include: The Chocolate-Covered-Cookie Tantrum; Polka Dot Parade: A Book About Bill Cunningham; and Parrots, Pugs, and Pixie Dust: A Book About Fashion Designer Judith Leiber. She has been a regular contributor to the New York Times, and her feature stories have appeared widely in many other newspapers and national magazines. Deborah lives in New York City with her husband, journalist Ralph Blumenthal, and their rescued dog, Nellie, a beagle/pointer mix.

About the Illustrator

Nadine Kaadan is an award-winning author-illustrator from Syria. She writes stories inspired by Syria's rich cultural heritage and is committed to helping child refugees in Europe and the Middle East. She currently lives in the United Kingdom.