I was so excited to read a novel by a Palestinian writer that I was disappointed. It seems to me that there are basic generalizations in the story that lack nuance and can be a harmful approach to understanding a different culture. I often felt a reduction of arab culture in addition to being juxtaposed with ~grandiose~ American culture, which I didn’t appreciate. Also, it has a YA element in the writing style that constantly threw me off.
It’s a very beautiful, heart breaking story. Very deep, empowering book. The best novel I have read for years.