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Alyan, Hala. The Arsonists' City (2021)
A sweeping multi-generational saga that reunites a Palestinian family in Beirut, exposing buried resentments and legacies stretching from Lebanon to Syria and America. Richly textured and emotionally charged, it explores memory, identity, and the scars of displacement through vibrant storytelling.
Amiry, Suad. Mother of Strangers (2022)
Based on a true story, this novel follows a 15-year-old mechanic and a young peasant girl in apartheid-era Palestine, set against the backdrop of Jaffa’s bombing and mass displacement. It poignantly captures the fractures of youth and love amid historic upheaval.
Arafat, Zaina. You Exist Too Much (2020)
Through a mosaic of vignettes spanning the U.S. and Middle East, this novel explores a young Palestinian-American woman's struggles with her sexual orientation and intergenerational trauma. It’s a bold, lyrical journey toward self-acceptance and identity beyond imposed expectations.
Dabbagh, Selma. Out of It (2024)
Set in Gaza City during the Second Intifada, this debut novel captures the claustrophobia of siege life through the eyes of an ordinary family. The narrative balances everyday dreams with relentless conflict, humanizing history through quiet observation and emotional restraint.
Greenwood, Phoebe. Vulture (2025)
A biting satire on war journalism following a British freelancer in the Gaza conflict. As her detachment grows, so does her moral unraveling—Greenwood delivers a fierce critique of the media’s exploitation of suffering and the corrosive effects of conflict coverage.
Hammad, Isabella. Enter Ghost (2024)
Set against a West Bank staging of Hamlet, this novel blends theater, hauntings, and Palestinian history through the eyes of a British-Palestinian actress. A haunting and introspective exploration of homecoming, family legacy, and the lingering shadows of occupation.
Kanafani, Ghassan. The Land of Sad Oranges (1962)
This classic short story collection traces the dispossession of a Palestinian family during the Nakba. Its lyrical reportage and enduring themes of exile and loss continue to resonate deeply across generations.
Khoury, Elias. Gate of the Sun (1989)
An epic novel weaving magical realism and memoir, chronicling Palestinian refugees’ exodus post-Nakba. Its lyrical prose captures memory, loss, and the long journey toward belonging across the Arab world.
Laird, Elizabeth & Nimr, Sonia. A Little Piece of Ground (2003)
A poignant middle-grade novel co-authored by Elizabeth Laird and Ramallah native Sonia Nimr. It tells the story of a boy living under occupation, forced to defend his home—an accessible entry point for younger readers into themes of resistance and resilience.
Morcan, James. Anno 2020 (2020)
A futuristic or speculative work listed in Palestinian fiction recommendations. It reflects the continued exploration of identity and geopolitical futures—a testament to growing narrative diversity.
Nasrallah, Ibrahim. The Lanterns of the King of Galilee: A Novel of 18th‑Century Palestine (2018)
A historical saga set in 18th-century Palestine, blending rich cultural detail with complex characters across social and spiritual divides. It evokes an imagined past that deeply resonates with contemporary echoes of heritage and loss.
Shamieh, Betty. Too Soon (2025)
A sharp, humorous debut likened to a Palestinian-American Sex and the City. The protagonist, a theater director in her late 30s, navigates romantic and cultural identity struggles with wit and irreverence—subverting expectations of solemnity in Palestinian fiction.
Zaher, Yasmin. The Coin (2024)
This debut novel explores the life of a Palestinian woman living in New York wrestling with statelessness, trauma, and the lure of luxury fashion. Zaher resists simplistic narratives, offering a layered, morally complex portrait of diaspora identity.
