Asad’s Secret: A Novel of Gaza

Attaallah’s insular, character-focused English-language debut follows a teenager’s fluctuating thoughts and emotions as he confronts daily struggles surrounding life in 2011 Gaza. Seventeen-year-old Asad—the third child of eight and the eldest son—deeply resents his circumstances: his family resides in two rooms under a tin roof in a refugee camp, he’s never used a computer or cell phone, and he envies the better living conditions of his classmates and relatives living outside the camp. Since his father has been imprisoned for undisclosed crimes for the past six years, Asad works part-time at a printing press to help support his family. He also turns to wise 80-year-old Um Fazzi, whom Asad calls the “First Lady of the camp,” for book loans, frank conversation, and down-to-earth advice (including about his crush, beautiful, intelligent Houriya). Asad’s acerbic tone and circular narration often overshadow significant plot beats. As Asad matures, though, his world expands, bringing notes of hope and optimism to the narrative. Emphasizing interior storytelling over broader context regarding the setting and period, this novel offers a brief glimpse into one teen’s experience living in a part of the world that’s often underrepresented in young people’s literature. Ages 12–up. (June)