Where the streets had a name
Encyclopedia
Where the Streets Had a Name is a young adult novel by Randa Abdel-Fattah
. It was published in April 2008, shortly after the death of the author's grandmother. It is the only book of Abdel-Fattah's to contain a dedication. It is as follows:
Samy, who is mainly interested in football and the latest elimination on X Factor
, yet always manages to attract trouble.
But luck is on their side. Hayaat and Samy have a curfew-free day to travel to Jerusalem. However, while their journey is only a few kilometres long, it may take a lifetime to complete.
, where she finds what it truly means to have support, and to have courage in the face of oppression.
and Nabil Nowaira.
Randa Abdel-Fattah
Randa Abdel-Fattah is an Australian-born writer of Palestinian and Egyptian parentage.-Personal life:Randa Abdel-Fattah is an Australian-born writer of Palestinian and Egyptian parentage. Abdel-Fattah grew up in Melbourne but now lives in Sydney where she is a lawyer. She lives with her husband...
. It was published in April 2008, shortly after the death of the author's grandmother. It is the only book of Abdel-Fattah's to contain a dedication. It is as follows:
To my Grandmother Sitti Jamilah, who passed away on 24th April, 2008, aged 98. I had hoped that you would live to see this book and that you would be allowed to touch the soil of your homeland again. It is my consolation that you died surrounded by my father and family and friends who cherished you. May you rest in peace. And to my father-May you see a free Palestine in your lifetime.
Plot summary
This book is in the point of view of 13-year-old Hayaat, who is on a mission. She believes a handful of soil from her grandmother's ancestral home in Jerusalem will save her beloved Sitti Zeynab's life. The only problem is the impenetrable wall that divides the West Bank, as well as the checkpoints, the curfews, the permit system, and Hayaat's best friendFriendship
Friendship is a form of interpersonal relationship generally considered to be closer than association, although there is a range of degrees of intimacy in both friendships and associations. Friendship and association are often thought of as spanning across the same continuum...
Samy, who is mainly interested in football and the latest elimination on X Factor
The X Factor (UK)
The X Factor is a British television music competition to find new singing talent. Created by Simon Cowell, it began in September 2004 and is contested by aspiring singers drawn from public auditions. It is the originator of the international X Factor franchise. The seven series of the show to date...
, yet always manages to attract trouble.
But luck is on their side. Hayaat and Samy have a curfew-free day to travel to Jerusalem. However, while their journey is only a few kilometres long, it may take a lifetime to complete.
Hayaat's personality
Hayaat is very determined, and sometimes stubborn. However, there is a hole in her heart. A few years before, she and her friend Maysaa were together when a bomb exploded. Fragments ricocheted off a wall towards Hayaat, causing wounds that would leave permanent scars. She turned to see her best friend in a pool of blood, dead. Though Hayaat is strong, she is also very troubled. She feels guilt at her friend's death, and also sadness. Frequently, she overhears her mother and grandmother talking, saying Who will marry her with those scars? Hayaat is traumatised by her past, but learns to be strong in the face of the war-torn Middle EastMiddle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
, where she finds what it truly means to have support, and to have courage in the face of oppression.
Translation into other languages
حينما كان للشوارع أسماء an Arabic translation to Where the Streets Had a Name, has been published by Bloomsbury Qatar Foundation Publishing early 2010. The translators are Amira NowairaAmira Nowaira
Amira Nowaira is an Egyptian academic, translator, columnist and author. She gained her doctorate in English literature from Birmingham University. She has served as chair of the English department at Alexandria University, and is currently a professor there. She has published a number scholarly...
and Nabil Nowaira.
External links
- Interview on Radio NationalRadio NationalABC Radio National is an Australia-wide non-commercial radio network run by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.Radio National broadcasts national programming in areas that include news and current affairs, the arts, social issues, science, drama and comedy...
LifeMatters program - A West Bank story on Radio NationalRadio NationalABC Radio National is an Australia-wide non-commercial radio network run by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.Radio National broadcasts national programming in areas that include news and current affairs, the arts, social issues, science, drama and comedy...
TheBookShow - Wisdom and laughter in a child's view of Palestine review by Naomi Shihab NyeNaomi Shihab NyeNaomi Shihab Nye is a poet, songwriter, and novelist. She was born to a Palestinian father and American mother. Although she regards herself as a "wandering poet", she refers to San Antonio as her home.-Career:...
at Electronic IntifadaElectronic IntifadaThe Electronic Intifada is a not-for-profit, independent online publication which covers the Israeli-Palestinian conflict from a Palestinian perspective, "aimed at combating the pro-Israeli, pro-American spin" its editors believe exists in mainstream media accounts.-History:EI was founded by Ali... - http://www.qf.org.qa/output/page921.asp