Susan Muaddi Darraj

“Behind You Is the Sea fearlessly confronts stereotypes about Palestinian culture, weaving a remarkable portrait of life's intricate moments, from joyous weddings to heart-wrenching funerals, from shattered hearts to hidden truths—I wept and grew alongside this family. This is a story that challenges perceptions, offering a heartfelt glimpse into the interior lives of those who call this community home. A must read novel with unforgettable characters and an unwavering, fresh voice—I couldn’t put it down until the very last page! Darraj delivers an instant, necessary, and authentic classic to the cannon of Arab-American literature.”—Etaf Rum, author of Evil Eye and A Woman Is No Man An exciting debut novel that gives voice to the diverse residents of a Palestinian American community in Baltimore—from young activists in conflict with their traditional parents to the poor who clean for the rich—lives which intersect across divides of class, generation, and religion. 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 for “dishonoring” their name. Only a trip to Palestine, where Marcus experiences an unexpected and dramatic transformation, can bridge this seemingly unbridgeable divide between the two generations. Behind You Is the Sea faces stereotypes about Palestinian culture head-on and, shifting perspectives to weave a complex social fabric replete with weddings, funerals, broken hearts, and devastating secrets.

A Novel

Behind You Is the Sea

Farah and her best friend, Allie Liu, are getting excited to turn in their applications to the Magnet Academy, where they both hope to attend sixth grade. But when new girl Dana Denver shows up, Farah's world is turned upside down. As Dana starts bullying Farah's little brother, Samir, Farah begins to second-guess her choice to leave him behind at Harbortown Elementary/Middle School. Determined to handle it on her own, Farah comes up with a plan--a plan that involves lying to those closest to her. Will her lies catch up with her, or can Farah find a way to defeat the bully and rock fifth grade?

Farah Rocks Fifth Grade

Traces the life of American-born Lisa Halaby, who married King Hussein of Jordan and became Queen Noor.

Queen Noor

Provides a biography of the young Syrian President who is trying to modernize his country.

Bashar Al-Assad

Rob Maaddi

An introduction to the life and career of the Puerto Rican baseball player Roberto Clemente.

Roberto Clemente

A short biography of the life and career of fashion designer Anna Sui.

Anna Sui

Brenda Lange

Virginia Brackett

Vicki Cox

Richard Worth

Bonnie Hinman

Veda Boyd Jones

Sherry Beck Paprocki

Colleen Madonna Flood Williams

Charles J Shields

Tom Lashnits

Anne Todd

Kerry Acker

Facts On File

Rachel A Koestler-Grack

Professor John Morrison

Sarah Louise Kras

Linda Barth

Jennifer Bond Reed

Dr Heather Lehr Wagner

Absorbing accounts of the leaders whose ideas and actions have changed the course of history Examines each person's life in the context of the politics of the time Full-color photographs enhance each book

Major World Leaders Set

Growing up in an academically successful Chinese-American family, Anna Sui was not destined to make her mark as a fashion designer. When Sui left for New York City, America's fashion capital, her mother lamented that her only daughter was wasting her brains in a career that required none. Almost 30 years later, Sui has one of the most sought-after labels in fashion world. Blending rock and roll, bohemian culture, and pure girlishness in her designs, Sui has created a devout following of famous fans, including Madonna, Paris Hilton, and supermodels Linda Evangelista and Christy Turlington. Find out how this girl from suburban Detroit pursued her dream, even when few believed it could come true.

The Inheritance of Exile expertly weaves a tapestry the lives of four second generation Arab-American women as they search for a meaningful sense of home and identity.

Stories from South Philly

The Inheritance of Exile

When he assumed the office, President Hosni Mubarak already faced opposition from many sectors of the Egyptian population. But he has managed to usher Egypt through a difficult era with stability. This biography of Hosni Mubarak traces his rise from a humble background to a bright career in the military to the top of the Egyptian government.

Hosni Mubarak

Describes some of the major events in Soviet history, such as the rise of communism in Russia, the terror and expansionist policies of Joseph Stalin, the election of Mikhail Gorbachev, the explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear reactor, and much more.

The Collapse of the Soviet Union

These riveting personalities each achieved excellence, but even greater than their individual accomplishments is the positive Hispanic image they collectively represent to the world. Photographs, illustrations, and lively text tell the stories ot these fascinating historical figures.

Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Brings together the voices of important Arab and Arab-American women writers on the subject of creative writing and offers many original selections from contributors.

Arab and Arab American Women on Writing

Scheherazade's Legacy

Farah's little brother is in the hospital with a heart problem that needs surgery, so her parents send sixth-grader Farah off to stay with her grandmother in a retirement condo in Florida; Sitti Fayrouz does not speak much English, has a lot of rules, and does not understand Farah's interest in geology, so Farah is not happy with the move--but despite being the only child in the community, Farah finds that the people are nice, and despite getting off to a bad start (she accidentally dumped a soda on his lap) she forms a friendship with Dr. Fisher, who shares her interest in science.

Farah Rocks Florida

Eleven-year-old Farah spends much of her summer trying to earn money to attend an enrichment camp at her new school, but someone is sabotaging her by taking down her fliers. Includes glossaries and instructions for growing crystals.

Farah Rocks Summer Break

Feeling guilty over the house fire she might have started, Farah Hajjar channels her energy into starting a creative writing club at the Magnet Academy where she is a new sixth-grader. Includes writing prompts and glossaries.

Farah Rocks New Beginnings

In 1987, Amy Tan had already built a successful career as a freelance writer for well-known companies and corporations. However, though her work was lucrative, she still felt unsatisfied - until she tried to write fiction. Tan realized that she needed to express the things that mattered to her. Two years later, The Joy Luck Club hit bookstores, and Amy Tan, the daughter of immigrant parents from China, became a household name. She had written stories about real issues in her life and the lives of her parents: growing up as a Chinese American, the difficulty and challenges of starting over in a new country, and the tragedy of loss. Amy Tan is an inspiring biography of a woman whose own life is as arresting as that of one of her protagonists. Readers will find out how Tan followed her voice and became a beloved writer who touched the lives of people of all ethnic and racial backgrounds everywhere.

Amy Tan

Before 1947, professional baseball was as segregated as the rest of American society: Black baseball players were forced to compete in the Negro Leagues, rather than in Major League Baseball. But on April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier and changed history by becoming the first African American to play in the Major League Baseball. Signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers and managed by the visionary Branch Rickey, Robinson spent 10 seasons in the major leagues, during which time the Dodgers won six pennants. Robinson was a six-time All-Star, the National League Rookie of the Year in 1947, and the National League MVP in 1949. This fully illustrated, highly readable biography traces the phenomenal rise of this all-American icon.

Jackie Robinson

In The Inheritance of Exile, Susan Muaddi Darraj expertly weaves a tapestry of the events and struggles in the lives of four Arab-American women. Hanan, Nadia, Reema, and Aliyah search for a meaningful sense of home, caught in the cultural gap that exists between the Middle East and the United States. Daughters of Palestinian immigrants who have settled into the diverse southern section of Philadelphia, the four friends live among Vietnamese, Italians, Irish, and other ethnic groups. Each struggles to reconcile her Arab identity with her American one. Muaddi Darraj adds the perspectives of the girls’ mothers, presented in separate stories, which illuminate the often troubled relationship between first and second generations of immigrants. Her suite of finely detailed portraits of arresting characters, told in evocative, vivid language, is sure to intrigue those seeking enjoyment and insight.

Susan Muaddi Darraj

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