Doaa is the novel’s protagonist, and the narrative tells her tragic-yet-hopeful story of a girl who forced to flee from the Syrian civil war. During the story, she faces her greatest fears and extreme violence, but Doaa manages to not only survive but save the life of a baby girl. The events of the story change Doaa. In the early stages of the book, she focuses primarily on being useful for her family, for her country, and for the ideals that she wishes to uphold. This is why she becomes involved in the protest movement and why she risks her life to help members of the Free Syrian Army. Doaa’s one desire in life is to have a purpose and her story becomes a quest to find that sense of purpose. In Syria, this search leads her to the protest movement. As the protests worsen, she begins to understand the true authoritarian nature of her government. She feels compelled to rebel, and helping the protest movement gives her life a sense of meaning. Whether she is washing tear gas from people’s eyes or hiding rebel combatants in her home, she is never happier than when her actions have tangible, meaningful results.