Mother of Strangers
Mother of Strangers tells the story of Subhi, a 15-year-old living in Jaffa in the late 1940s, a tumultuous time in Palestine. Subhi is such a typical teenager: he is enamored with a young girl whom he dreams of marrying, obsesses over the idea of owning a fancy new suit, and throws himself into activities he excels at. The main character is compelling and singular and one of the strongest features of the book.
Subhi’s childhood is, however, interrupted by war and violence. The story occurs during the 1948 displacement of Palestinian Arabs, known as the Nakba. Israeli settlers attacked Arab cities like Jaffa and forced Palestinians to leave their homes. Subhi is separated from his family and his beloved, a portrait of the Palestinian people in miniature.
This novel describes an important and overlooked event in history. The only drawback to the storytelling is that chapters that explain the historical situation are often separated from the story of Subhi. I would prefer a story that better integrates the coming-of-age conflicts in Subhi’s life with the tumult of the Nakba. Modern Palestine is best understood through the tragedy of wide-eyed, talented, and singular individuals like Subhi.
