Mornings in Jenin by Susan Abulhawa

Review by Drew Bryant

The short: 

Mornings in Jenin tells the story of a Palestinian family removed from their ancestral home by the newly-formed state of Israel.

The long:

Amal was born in the Jenin refugee camp after her Palestinian family was forced out of their ancestral village by Israel in 1948.  One of her older brothers was stolen by an Israeli soldier, her mother is consumed by grief, and her father works all day.  Mornings in Jenin tells a story that takes place over the course of 60 years and four generations.  Amal’s family, the Abulhejas, experience suffering and heartbreak, but also joy and love through tumultuous times in history.  This is a story about the importance of family, homeland, and history.

To read or not to read:

Read!  Mornings in Jenin is a deeply moving story addressing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with honesty and compassion.  Anyone who is interested in the subject will find a powerful story in this book.