Muaddi Darraj, Susan
9780063324244, 0063324245
Paperback
 
An exciting debut novel that gives voice to the diverse residents of a Palestinian American community in Baltimore whose lives intersect across divides of class, generation, and religion.
“An instant, necessary, and authentic classic in the canon of Arab American literature.”—Etaf Rum, New York Times bestselling author of Evil Eye and A Woman Is No Man
 
 “Rarely are Arabic-speaking people portrayed with much nuance or depth. Which is, in part, what makes Behind You Is the Sea such an important work: Its characters come to life, transcending politics, breaking through preconceptions and stereotypes, speaking clearly and lucidly about their uniquely human experiences.…Neither angels nor devils, these characters are portrayed in all their complicated, charming, aggravating, bewitching glory. They are human, and as such, they are us.”—Washington Post
 
Funny and touching, Behind You Is the Sea brings us into the homes and lives of three main families—the Baladis, the Salamehs, and the Ammars—Palestinian immigrants who’ve all found a different welcome in America.
 
Their various fates and struggles cause their community dynamic to sizzle and sometimes explode: The wealthy Ammar family employs young Maysoon Baladi, whose own family struggles financially, to clean up after their spoiled teenagers. Meanwhile, Marcus Salameh confronts his father in an effort to protect his younger sister who “dishonored” their name. Only a trip to Palestine, where Marcus experiences an unexpected and dramatic transformation, can bridge this divide between the two generations.
 
Behind You Is the Sea faces stereotypes about Palestinian culture head-on, shifting perspectives to weave a complex social fabric replete with weddings, funerals, broken hearts, and devastating secrets.