In The Wrong End of the Telescope, Rabih Alameddine (celebrated author of The Angel of History and An Unnecessary Woman) trains a curious lens on the Syrian refugee crisis through the volunteerism of Dr. Mina Simpson, a trans woman from the United States. She arrives on the island of Lesbos at the behest of her friend Emma, whose NGO needs someone with Mina's skills. Moved by a compassion deeper than that of the typical disaster tourist, Mina makes herself useful by attending to Sumaiya, a refugee who is resolute in her desire to protect her family as she attempts to conceal a terminal illness. But this arresting work of art has many more secrets to reveal. "The island seemed to be casting remembrance spells," Mina says in one of numerous ruminative chapters about her life leading up to this trip. With enormous generosity and knowing humor, The Wrong End of the Telescope is an unequivocal masterpiece. --Dave Wheeler, associate editor, Shelf Awareness