Where the Streets Had a Name

This powerful and poignant novel follows 13-year-old Hayaat, a Palestinian girl living in Bethlehem, as she undertakes a secret and forbidden quest to Jerusalem. Believing a handful of soil from her ailing grandmother's ancestral home will save her life, Hayaat, accompanied by her best friend Samy, navigates the complexities of checkpoints, curfews, and the West Bank wall. The story sensitively explores the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through a child's eyes, blending humor and warmth with the harsh realities of displacement and political division. It's a tale of family love, resilience, and the enduring power of hope, offering a unique and accessible window into a timely and often challenging subject for young readers.

Thirteen-year-old Hayaat of Bethlehem faces check points, curfews, and the travel permit system designed to keep people on the West Bank when she attempts to go to her grandmother's ancestral home in Jerusalem with her best friend.