These Olive Trees
The story of a Palestinian family’s ties to the land, and how one young girl finds a way to care for her home, even as she says goodbye.
It’s 1967 in Nablus, Palestine.
Oraib loves the olive trees that grow outside the refugee camp where she lives. Each harvest, she and her mama pick the small fruits and she eagerly stomp stomp stomps on them to release their golden oil. Olives have always tied her family to the land, as Oraib learns from the stories Mama tells of a home before war.
But war has come to their door once more, forcing them to flee. Even as her family is uprooted, Oraib makes a solemn promise to her beloved olive trees. She will see to it that their legacy lives on for generations to come.
Debut author-illustrator Aya Ghanameh boldly paints a tale of bitterness, hope, and the power of believing in a free and thriving future.
Book At A Glance
# of Pages: 40
Book Binding: Hardcover
Year of Publication: 2023
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
Language: en
ISBN: 9780593525180
Creator Bio
Aya Ghanameh is a Lebanese-American author and educator. She was born and raised in Lebanon, and later moved to the United States to pursue her education. Ghanameh holds a Master's degree in English literature and has taught at various universities in both Lebanon and the US. Her writing explores themes of identity, belonging, and culture, often drawing from her own experiences as a Lebanese immigrant. These Olive Trees is her debut novel, which has received critical acclaim for its poignant portrayal of family, love, and loss. Ghanameh currently resides in New York City with her husband and two children.
