The Syrian Jewelry Box: A Daughter’s Journey for Truth

A young American growing up in the Middle East, Carina Rourke enjoys a blissful innocence until, at age fifteen, she is captivated by an obsessive desire to peek inside of her mother’s forbidden jewelry box. There, Carina discovers a shocking family secret arising from her clandestine mother’s past in post-World War II Germany. On the heels of her discovery, she and her family pursue her father’s dream: an exotic drive through the Middle East and Europe, which serves as a metaphoric journey for the woman Carina becomes-a silent nomad searching for identity.

When they reach Paris, Carina is entranced by the city’s temptations. French pastries become a dangerous addiction and an accomplice in silence . . . and so does the love of a mysterious Tunisian. Inspired by her past, The Syrian Jewelry Box: A Daughter’s Journey for Truth chronicles a teenage heroine who triumphs over her identity crisis and learns the power of love.

For over two decades, Carina Burns traveled the globe throughout Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, including Germany, France, the Netherlands, Hong Kong, and Saudi Arabia. She enjoys all aspects of foreign cultures, including exotic cuisines, cultural history, and language. She studied writing at DeAnza College and Stanford and is a member of the California Writers Club South Bay Branch. A speaker and blogger on adoption-related issues, Carina is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in psychology. She is the author of ＂What Do You Mean I Was Adopted? 7 Steps to Acceptance, Gratitude & Peace＂. When not attending school, she enjoys spending time with her family, reading and nature hiking. She lives in Palo Alto, California. To learn more about Carina, visit her website at www.carinasueburns.com.