This sparsely worded graphic novel looks at young Syrian refugee Amina. As her overfull boat capsizes and she begins to sink into the sea, Amina remembers her life in Syria that led up to her present circumstances. Her parents struggled to put food on the table, as money grew tight and the city crumbled around them. Amina's mother told her to always remember Zenobia, the bygone Syrian empress who showed that women are capable of great things, and it is Zenobia who Amina's thoughts turn to in the swirling ocean.

Zenobia paints a heart-breaking picture of the plight of Syrian refugees, however doesn't offer much in the way of information or context for Amina's story.