Brothers and Strangers

Born in Mosul Iraq to a wealthy intercultural family Junis Sultan’s happy privileged childhood is abruptly cut short by the start of the Gulf War in 1991. With their home destroyed Junis’s family flees to Germany settling in a small conservative town near Frankfurt. As his family struggles to adapt to their new circumstances Junis finds himself increasingly torn between two worlds—fighting to carve out an identity for himself between his family’s expectations and a culture that demands his assimilation. After the 9/11 terror attacks Junis begins to keep a diary in which he reflects on questions of family friendship religion and politics. These deep insights gradually expand beyond cultural borders as Junis begins to explore the universal human needs for bonding and freedom.Brothers and Strangers is a unique heartfelt memoir of endurance forgiveness and self-actualization offering a timely message about the importance of acting with openness and love in a global reality.