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Where The Streets Had A Name

3.84 of 5 stars 3.84 · rating details · 465 ratings · 103 reviews

Thirteen year old Hayaat 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 that Hayaat and her family live behind the impenetrable wall that divides the West Bank, and they're on the wrong side of check points, curfews, and the travel permit system. Plus, Hayaat'...more Thirteen year old Hayaat 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 that Hayaat and her family live behind the impenetrable wall that divides the West Bank, and they're on the wrong side of check points, curfews, and the travel permit system. Plus, Hayaat's best friend Samy always manages to attract trouble. But luck is on the pair's side as they undertake the journey to Jerusalem from the Palestinian Territories when Hayaat and Samy have a curfew-free day to travel.

But while their journey may only be a few kilometers long, it could take a lifetime to complete. . . .

Humorous and heartfelt, WHERE THE STREETS HAD A NAME deals with the Israel-Palestinian conflict with sensitivity and grace and will open a window on this timely subject.

Praise for DOES MY HEAD LOOK BIG IN THIS?:

"Determined to prove she's strong enough to 'wear a badge of my faith,' Amal faces ostracism and ridicule as she dons her hijab with both good humor and trepidation. . . . Abdel-Fattah's fine first novel offers a world of insight to post-9/11 readers." --KIRKUS REVIEWS (starred)

"More than the usual story of the immigrant teen's conflict with her traditional parents, the funny, touching contemporary narrative will grab teens everywhere." --BOOKLIST (starred)

"Using a winning mix of humor and sensitivity, Abdel-Fattah ably demonstrates that her heroine is, at heart, a teen like any other. This debut should speak to anyone who has felt like an outsider for any reason." --PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

"[A] witty, sensitive debut . . ." -PEOPLE

Praise for TEN THINGS I HATE ABOUT ME:

"Written with insight, humor and sensitivity, Abdel-Fattah introduces a winning Muslim-Australian heroine who discovers that 'honesty is liberating.' " -- KIRKUS REVIEWS

"[T]he author brings a welcome sense of humor to Jamilah's insights about her culture, and she is equally adept at more delicate scenes. . . ." --PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

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Hardcover, 320 pages

Published November 1st 2010 by Scholastic Press (first published October 1st 2008)

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Jan 27, 2013 Aneesah rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I might be a bit biased towards this one, because the story is set in Palestine, and I believe many of us, Muslim or not, have a soft spot for Palestine. Being a children’s book though, this was written in the eyes of 13-year-old Hayaat, and is dotted with humour and childish naivety. I also already love the Arab culture and Arabic language so I now know a few more words like dabka, the folk dance, and ya zalami, which means “oh man”, etc.

But on a serious note, I believe the author’s intention w...more I might be a bit biased towards this one, because the story is set in Palestine, and I believe many of us, Muslim or not, have a soft spot for Palestine. Being a children’s book though, this was written in the eyes of 13-year-old Hayaat, and is dotted with humour and childish naivety. I also already love the Arab culture and Arabic language so I now know a few more words like dabka, the folk dance, and ya zalami, which means “oh man”, etc.

But on a serious note, I believe the author’s intention was indeed to shed light on the Palestine-Israel conflict, to bring out the things we might not know or even think about: how life goes on during war (people have weddings, children go to school, families need to go shop for groceries), the multi-religious society (Muslims, Christians, Jews), how there are good people in all religions and how prejudices and generalisations just do not work, injustice in the littlest and biggest things… And I also like how the author portrays the family in this story, in particular the grandmother-granddaughter and sister-sister relationship. Favourite quotes:

"Feel as you wish; that is your right. But you will soon find that even hatred will not give you comfort. It will only make you miserable." — Sitti Zeynab

"Once upon a time a fisherman went out to sea. He caught many fish and threw them into a large bucket on his boat. The fish were not yet dead, so the man decided to ease their suffering by killing them swiftly. While he worked, the cold air made his eyes water. One of the wounded fish saw this and said to another, “What a kind heart this fisherman has — see how he cries for us.” The other fish replied, “Ignore his tears and watch what he is doing with his hands.” "— Raghib

"Your soul is strong, Hayaat. Do not deprive the world of your soul and heart. Justice will come when those who hope outweigh those who despair. Hope is a force that cannot be reckoned with, ya Hayaat. You will find a place for yourself in this world." — Sitti Zeynab(less)

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Oct 30, 2012 Huda N.H. rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

رواية تجمع بين المتناقضات ،، كيف لا و هي تحكي قصة أبطالها على أرض فلسطين الحبيبة التي ترتدي ثوب التناقض كي تستطيع العيش و تعلن للعالم أننا باقون رغم كل شئ
،
تشويق وكوميديا طريفة يقابله حنين إلى الوطن وصور من الواقع المرير الذي
يعانيه أبناء الوطن
" حياة) بطلة القصة ،، رغم صغر عمرها إلا أنها اسم على مُسمّى فالـ"الحياة)
أذاقتها الكثيـــر ،، و ربما كانت مثالاً ورمزاً للكثير من أطفال شعبنا
،
ولكن فاجأتني النهاية بحيث شعرتها تقليدية في بداية الأمر ،، و لكن عندما تعمقت بها وجدت (حفلة الزفاف) تحمل معاني ك...more

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Nov 14, 2009 Steph Bowe rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Middle East is such a rare setting to see in books for teenagers, and I found this to be such an interesting, intelligent and thought-provoking book that also managed to be funny, despite such heavy content. Hayaat was a likeable protagonist, and I really felt as I was reading her need to save her grandmother.

I really enjoyed one of Randa Abdel-Fattah's earlier novels Does My Head Look Big In This?, which I think is a really wonderful book, but it is dramatically different from Where the str...more

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Mar 17, 2013 Meredith rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Randa Abdel-Fattah’s Where the Streets Had a Name is an adventurous and humorous tale of two young Palestinians on a secret journey to Israel. In the beginning of the book, the main character Hayaat is at the grocery store with her family during a curfew. Her and her family are trying to obtain all of the items on their list as quickly as they can so they can get back home before the curfew begins again. Fortunately, they succeed but not without forgetting a few things, such as a toothbrush for...more Randa Abdel-Fattah’s Where the Streets Had a Name is an adventurous and humorous tale of two young Palestinians on a secret journey to Israel. In the beginning of the book, the main character Hayaat is at the grocery store with her family during a curfew. Her and her family are trying to obtain all of the items on their list as quickly as they can so they can get back home before the curfew begins again. Fortunately, they succeed but not without forgetting a few things, such as a toothbrush for Hayaat. Yet, Hayaat is still grateful and does not complain. Luckily, the curfew is lifted a few days after and Hayaat and her siblings are able to return to school again. Hayaat enjoys school because she likes learning and seeing her best friend Samy. Samy is an only child who lives with his very strict aunt and uncle. As the story continues the readers learn that Hayaat and Samy are really just normal kids who enjoy regular things like playing soccer and watching The X Factor. However, this changes when Hayaat’s grandmother, Sitti Zenyab falls gravely ill. Hayaat becomes determined that it is her job to save her grandmother’s life, and she believes the only way she can do this is by obtaining some soil from Sitti Zenyab’s beloved land in Jerusalem. This is seemingly impossible because they live in Bethlehem, and are divided from Jerusalem by the Israeli wall. Hayaat’s mom would also never let her make the trip- if she found out. But Hayaat will not give up, so she and Samy skip school one day to complete the secret the mission. Along the way, their friendship strengthens as they discover more about their heritage and each another than they ever anticipated.
Where the Streets Had a Name was a very enjoyable read for me. I loved how Abdel-Fattah incorporated the Israeli-Palestinian conflict into the plot. She never bluntly came out and discussed it but instead included it through Hayaat’s experiences. I also really appreciated that Abdel-Fattah handled the conflict very lightly and with humor, as I don’t think I would have enjoyed the novel as much if it was grave and serious. One thing I was surprised about was how historically accurate the novel was. Although I have read numerous historical fiction works in the past, they have all proven to be more about the fiction and less about true history. I was glad that this wasn’t the case this time, because it provided me with another accurate source for my research paper. Another thing I appreciated about the novel was the Arabic word glossary included by the author in the back of the book. Abdel-Fattah incorporated a numerous amount of Arabic words into the text, which I found really interesting. It really made the book unique and different from other books I have read. If the glossary was not included, then I would not have found the book to be as interesting, as I would have just been very confused. The only thing I would change about the novel is the length. The novel was too short for me, and I would have liked to have read more about Hayaat’s and Samy’s journey to Israel. Nonetheless, Abdel-Fattah did an outstanding job! I highly recommend this book!

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Jul 10, 2012 Cindy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended Age:
12+

Overall Rating: 3.5 stars

Overall Review:
I always enjoy a book that gives a good look at a culture that I'm not familiar with, and Where The Streets Had A Name certainly delivered! A sweet, meaningful story about a girl growing up in the midst of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, this book gave me new insight into the complicated issues and feelings on all sides of this famous tension. Although at times I felt like the pace of the story lagged a little bit, overall, I enjoyed...more

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Nov 25, 2011 Ari rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2011

This is going to sound so silly to people but I was quite bothered by all the mentions of 'farting' in the book. I know I'm persnickety but I just didn't think it continually needed to be mentioned. And I'm pretty sure someone farts and another character takes note of it in every single chapter. On a more serious note, this story moves at a snail's pace. Hayaat doesn't form the idea for heading for Jerusalem until we are more than a few chapters in which I thought was frustrating. What made it m...more This is going to sound so silly to people but I was quite bothered by all the mentions of 'farting' in the book. I know I'm persnickety but I just didn't think it continually needed to be mentioned. And I'm pretty sure someone farts and another character takes note of it in every single chapter. On a more serious note, this story moves at a snail's pace. Hayaat doesn't form the idea for heading for Jerusalem until we are more than a few chapters in which I thought was frustrating. What made it more irksome was that the 'grand finale' so to speak felt rushed and the book ended on a happy but anti-climatic note. The ending just seemed odd and after the climax, I didn't understand why the book just didn't end (with a simple epilogue in place of all the details in the ending). Also, Hayaat recalls certain memories at various points in the story but they appear out-of-the-blue and it's not quite clear when her memory fades and it's back to the present.

The descriptions of life in Bethlehem are what makes this book so impressive. It's impressive because the descriptions are so simple but suddenly seemingly-mundane tasks (such as going to the grocery store) become a big deal when there is a curfew to contend with. Friends may end up as overnight guests if a curfew is ordered (sometimes random, sometimes due to protests as a form of punishment) and big celebrations could end up becoming small celebrations if travel restrictions are imposed, thereby limiting the mobility of guests. It's a ridiculous and frustrating situation especially when it limits people's abilities to get to the hospital, or attend a family wedding, etc. It's even more unbearable to read about the destruction of Palestinian homes and/or the possession of Palestinian homes by Israeli families who believe they have a claim to the land. There's a lot of Arabic food for thought, imagine being forced to leave your home (much like a refugee I think) and then essentially imprisoned in your new home. The story never becomes depressing, there are moments of levity (and no for me they did not come from farting references) especially concerning Hayaat and her beloved grandmother, Sitti Zeynab (sitti means my grandmother). The author describes people in a plain manner but with a little spark/unique touch such as when describing Sitti Zeynab's eyes "bright and untouched, having never caught up with the wrinkling, shrinking curse of the clock" (pg. 233).

One thing I am absolutely positive about is that when you finish Where the Streets Had a Name you will question (if you hadn't already) the Israeli government's treatment of Palestinians as well as America's policy towards Palestine. That's not to say there aren't sympathetic Israeli characters, as in real life, the characters are all human and Hayaat realizes that the Israeli soldiers have families, and that not all Israelis hate Palestinians. I think the author should have included an afterword explaining the situation because I was still curious/confused about quite a bit (for example: who orders curfews, the military or the government?). And obviously you can't make up your mind about such a complex issue after reading one or two or three books on the subject, after all this has been an issue since the '50s. Samy is an interesting best friend, I admired his spirit and obstinacy while at the same time it made me wince. I was glad that Hayaat had him at her side. A more concise ending, smoother transitions, and fewer mentions of bodily odors would have been nice. Hayaat's family is entertaining but mysterious since they aren't on the journey to Jerusalem with her, the reader learns little about them. Hayaat is a likable, genuine, brave main character but she wasn't particularly memorable in my mind. Furthermore, the glossary was strange to me because it didn't list definitions of every word mentioned (such as the 'curse' words or expressions). A good story with uncomplicated descriptions but complicated characters who needed to be more fleshed out, it moves slowly and while it took me some time to remember to go back to the story, I always remembered eventually. My favorite book by the author (and one I would recommend starting with if you want a hysterically funny read) is still Does My Head Look Big in This?

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Oct 30, 2011 Izziewizzy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Cerita dia pasal Hayaat, seorang budak perempuan yang berusia 13 tahun yang ada parut di muka dia sebab dia terkena bedilan peluru masa dia tengok protes demolished rumah. Kawan baik dia, Maysaa, terbunuh kat situ kena peluru dekat kepala, mati dalam keadaan mata tertutup, kepala terburai. Lepas tu Hayaat is the same Haayaat anymore, dia rasa inferior dengan keadaan dia (sebab ada parut di muka).

Hayaat ni ada family, nak kata happy family tak sangat, average (semua family macam ni, saya rasa..),...more Cerita dia pasal Hayaat, seorang budak perempuan yang berusia 13 tahun yang ada parut di muka dia sebab dia terkena bedilan peluru masa dia tengok protes demolished rumah. Kawan baik dia, Maysaa, terbunuh kat situ kena peluru dekat kepala, mati dalam keadaan mata tertutup, kepala terburai. Lepas tu Hayaat is the same Haayaat anymore, dia rasa inferior dengan keadaan dia (sebab ada parut di muka).

Hayaat ni ada family, nak kata happy family tak sangat, average (semua family macam ni, saya rasa..), yang Mama dia kuat nagging, kakak yang suka exercise sebab nak kawen, adik yang tak dengar cakap, Ayah yang dah pendiam sejak rumah mereka di ambil tentera dan nenek yang suka kentut waktu malam (this is funny, tanpa warak nenek ni sah-sah cerita ni jadi gloomy) dan selalu bercerita.

So satu hari ni, nenek Hayaat, Sitti Zeynab ni cerita pasal rumah besar dia di Jerusalem.. betapa neneknya suka tinggal sana (dari tinggal di rumah mereka sekarang ni), ada dapur sendiri, dan yang penting tempat tu lah tempa di mana nenek dia kawen, jumpa datuk, living half oh her life.. dan satu saat, tanah mereka dirampas.. sapa tak marah kan?

Maka nenek dia pun cakap la, "Sesungguhnya nanti dia teringin sangat dia merasa nak jejak kembali ke tanah tu."

Dan pagi tu nenek dia jatuh, dan masuk hospital.

Hayaat pulak menangis melihat nenek dia yang sakit, dan kata-kata terakhir nenek dia pun dok termain-main kat kepala.. dan dia pun ajak kawan dia Samy, untuk pergi ke Jerusalem, nak bawakan tanah tempat rumah nenek dia dulu, dengan harapan dia dapat selamatkan nenek dia. Betapa naifnya budak 13 tahun ni.

Dan itulah ceritanya. cerita Hayaat yang travel ke Jerusalem (walaupun sebenarnya tempat tu 10km je dari rumah dia). Dapat tak dia ambik tanah bekas tempat rumah nenek dia? Jeng jeng jeng.. Saya tak nak la masuk details sangat dan cerita ni memang inspiring.. dan sangat sesuai untuk chegu-chegu buat buku ni sebagai buku sastera orang putih tu. Ecehce.. but seriously, budak-budak lebih perlukan this positif attitude dari Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde yang saya belajar dulu tu. =)(less)

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Jul 23, 2011 Emily rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book gave me the chills many times as I read it. The middle of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict isn’t the obvious choice for a young adult setting, but through the eyes of her thirteen-year-old protagonist Hayaat, Abdel-Fattah brings a segment of Palestinian culture - the Muslims and Christians of Bethlehem - to life in a tragic, humorous and altogether engaging story.

The mission referred to in the synopsis is a major part of the book but more important is the depiction of Hayaat’s family...more

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Apr 05, 2011 Lisa Eggers rated it 5 of 5 stars

What a great idea for a book. This is about a Palastinian family living in the West Bank. They have lost their land in Jerusalem and to add insult to injury, they are forbidden to even go there since they are now "green cards". When 13-year-old Hayatt's grandmother is rushed to the hospital, she decides to do something really special for her so she can regain her strength: she will find a way to sneak into Jerusalem and retrieve some soil from her ansestral home. Jerusalmem is only 6 miles away...more

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Feb 16, 2011 Sweet on Books rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: melissa-g, independent-reader-jr

I was inspired to do more research on the West Bank and the Palestinian people after reading this story and hope that young readers will do the same, so that they may draw their own conclusions in this complicated situation. Perhaps, years from now, one of Abdel-Fattah’s young readers will emerge as a future leader, someone with a unique concept to foster peace in this tormented region of the world. Until then, it is essential that we support books like this one, regardless of whether or not we...more I was inspired to do more research on the West Bank and the Palestinian people after reading this story and hope that young readers will do the same, so that they may draw their own conclusions in this complicated situation. Perhaps, years from now, one of Abdel-Fattah’s young readers will emerge as a future leader, someone with a unique concept to foster peace in this tormented region of the world. Until then, it is essential that we support books like this one, regardless of whether or not we agree with the point of view, because they encourage stimulating conversation and the generation of ideas that may shape our destiny as a global community.

The story centers around thirteen year-old Hayaat, her Palestinian family and their life in a poor neighborhood in Bethlehem, where they moved after “the Israelis confiscated our land in Beit Sahour.” They live in the shadows of the Wall separating them from Israel, and it serves as a symbol of their oppression, of “loss and death” according to Hayaat. She even remembers a story she heard of a man dismembered as his home was bulldozed during its construction. They suffer random curfews and ongoing humiliation by Israeli soldiers. Her family has been scarred emotionally but it is Hayaat who suffers a constant physical reminder of their situation with the scars on her face. She has been through a great deal, and even admits that at one time she thought that dying for freedom might have been a worthy cause – “like throwing oneself in front of a tank to protect an old man” but that she came to realize that “a courageous death is nice in theory only.” Hopefully readers will take note of this significant statement because it is so important in today's world. Despite their hardships and idiosyncrasies, Hayaat and her family are so normal. Parents argue, the siblings bicker, and the grandmother, Sitti Zeynab, farts - a lot. Hayaat and her best friend, Samy, play silly pranks and get into trouble at school. They use cell phones and refer to pop culture, like Michael Jackson. There is a strong bond among the family, especially between Hayaat and her grandmother. Surprisingly, they still seem to find humor in their lives, leaving the reader laughing unexpectedly between the tragedies. Some of the jokes are relevant to their location and their view of the world, like the grandmother saying Hayaat’s sister is so skinny people would think she had a holiday in Gaza, or Sammy and Hayaat’s shock when they learn that there’s a building in Italy that tips over and people actually think it’s special. As they say, “All our buildings are crooked.”

Throughout her life, Hayaat has heard of her grandmother’s heartache over losing her beautiful Jerusalem home to the Israelis. Because she does not have the proper paperwork, she can never even visit there again. Although she hates what happened, Sitti Zeynab says that “hatred will not give you comfort” and points out that Israelis are not really so different, that they have suffered as well. Hayaat, too, notices throughout the story that Israelis are, physically just like them in many ways. She takes it a step further, wondering what they are like – if they watch the same TV shows or if they care about the same things. When Sitti Zeynab falls ill, Hayaat resolves to go to Jerusalem and bring back soil from her grandmother’s property. Although it is only six miles away, with the checkpoints and restrictions on travel, it is a journey to get there. Accompanied by her friend Samy, they venture out, encountering a cast of characters along the way. While their mission is for Sitti Zeynab, it is a therapeutic experience for Hayaat and Samy as well. The physical obstacles are quite complex and I actually think it would have been helpful to have a map to follow their crusade.

Readers will become immersed into the Palestinian culture, from the family rituals and traditions, to the food and the language. Abdel-Fattah’s descriptive language will help create a picture in their minds and transport them to another world. The images of Hayaat’s father imploding, “rubble and ruins are inside him” and Hayaat’s friend, Maysaa’s face filling her dreams “like a faulty tap that won’t stop dripping” are powerful and poignant. The fact that this family feels so real, is what makes their plight that much more relevant. In a way, they represent families all over the world, from every culture and religion, that face adversity and meet the challenges and “roadblocks” that life presents, never giving up. They choose to survive and as Hayaat declares, to live with purpose. Although I enjoyed this book and recommend it, it did seem somewhat one-sided. Abdel-Fattah’s opinion is clearly heard through the grandmother in statements like “Sitti Zeynab’s village has never stopped calling her, beckoning her to return home.” and “I have sobbed for my land and it cries out for me in return.” Although she humanizes the Israeli soldiers and admits that we are all alike on the outside, she never offers a look inside their hearts and minds. We see them only from the Palestinian point of view. She doesn’t mention a suicide bomb until page 279 and even then, gives no explanation as to what that means to the Israelis, only that revenge is bad and that the Palestinians will pay for that action.(less)

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Jan 11, 2011 Wally rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: cities, families, friendship, girl-hero, israel, islam, mideast, tween

Hayyat is a Palestinian girl who lives in Bethlehem with her family, including her aging and ailing grandmother. When the grandmother gets sick, she and her best friend, a Christian boy, make a dangerous journey to Jerusalem to find a handful of soil that Hayyat believes will help save her grandmother’s life.
I really liked this book. Hayyat and all of her friends and family are entirely believable and human, with lots of feeling and individuality. The setting might require a map to really unders...more

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Jul 19, 2011 Denise rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

(Note: I actually listened to the audiobook version of this book, but am having trouble updating through IE8 - will hopefully update and remove this comment at a later time).

I will admit, I began this book almost entirely ignorant of the situation in the Middle East. I would catch bits and pieces of information on the news, but never really processed them as a whole. I would like to thank the author for helping tell the story in a way that makes me curious to further explore the culture and happ...more

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Jan 15, 2011 thewanderingjew rated it 4 of 5 stars

This tale, told pretty much through the eyes and experiences of a 13 year old Palestinian child named Hayaat, is tender, tragic and humorous all at the same time. It seeks to illuminate the issue of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in a gentle and largely non-confrontational way. It is told in simple truths, although the truth is often only on one side of the issue. Still, I would recommend it as a teaching tool in the middle grades so that this side of the issue, rarely covered, is explored mor...more This tale, told pretty much through the eyes and experiences of a 13 year old Palestinian child named Hayaat, is tender, tragic and humorous all at the same time. It seeks to illuminate the issue of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in a gentle and largely non-confrontational way. It is told in simple truths, although the truth is often only on one side of the issue. Still, I would recommend it as a teaching tool in the middle grades so that this side of the issue, rarely covered, is explored more fully.
Hayaat lives with her family in a small home in the walled off area of Israel on the West Bank. Her former home was bulldozed to make room for a road in Israel, leading to new settlements. Her father has been fairly despondent ever since he lost his land. Hayaat’s best friend is murdered by Israelis during a demonstration and Hayaat is scarred physically and emotionally during the incident. She and her friend are innocent victims. The demonstration, however, was not innocent. The young soldiers got spooked when they were attacked. Dispersing the crowd, tragedy occurred.
The problems encountered by the families trapped behind the wall are huge and seemingly insurmountable. Traveling and/or working in Israel is a nightmare for them. It is time consuming and erratic in nature. Their very existence is cause for suspicion. New checkpoints can randomly appear depending on the turmoil occurring. Suicide bombings bring increased security checks, searches, bulldozing of homes and humiliation for them.
Hayaat’s sister is engaged to be married and a wedding is being planned. There is happiness and joy in her home which is a warm and loving environment. Her grandmother is old and ill and she wants to see her homeland again before she dies; she yearns for the land she left behind in Israel. Hayaat adores her and is obsessed with the idea of sneaking into Israel and bringing back some soil from her grandmother’s former land. This is an exceedingly dangerous thing to chance but she and her friend Samy decide to try. The people she meets and the dangers she encounters serve as the medium for the story to unfold. Memories are aroused and the hazards of normal daily life are exposed. As philosophical and hopeful as Hayaat is about her life, Samy is angry and defiant. Through their remarks and behavior, we are presented with a picture of how the Arab Israeli conflict is viewed and acted out in the larger world. The larger problems of the conflict and the peace talks are illustrated through the lives of these children.
Via their experiences, the hardships faced and the sometimes frightening events they witness, some healing takes place. They do come to the realization that everyone, Israeli and Arab alike, really wants to just be allowed to live with dignity, that not all Jews are hateful enemies, that some work to help them achieve freedom and respect. However, the reason for their plight is never fully explored so they never quite come to the realization that they bear some responsibility for how they are being treated because of the past behavior of their brethren. The subject of the many wars the Arab nations have declared against Israel is never fully explored.
Hopefully, it is through the innocent eyes of children, the future generations, that this conflict will be resolved. Hayaat says “I live in an open air prison…so long as there is life there is love…” Her message of hope is what the world needs to hear. Her yearning for dignity and purpose and freedom is the message of the book.
The reason I gave the book four stars and not five is because the point that the Arabs are monitored because of the security threat that they pose, not because they are Arabs or Palestinians, is never quite made nor is the point that Jews are attacked and hated because they are Jews trying to live in their own country. The point that the Arabs do not want to accept the legitimacy of Israel is never quite made, as well. The Arabs are made to seem largely as innocent victims who had no part in the causal relationship between their suffering and their behavior.
Perhaps this book could be an effective weapon to fight hatred and serve as a teaching tool for students if another book with the opposing position is read at the same time and then both are dissected and analyzed for the reasons the conflict exists and the true history behind all the events is taught so that one side or another is not always demonized, so that both sides can begin to understand each other’s needs and engage in mutual respect.
The glossary at the end of the book is very helpful as there were times when I was totally confounded with the meaning of words.
For further information on the history of the conflict, check out these websites.
http://www.mideastweb.org/http://www....
http://www.mideastweb.org/nutshell.htm
http://mideastweb.org/timeline.htm (less)

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Nov 09, 2009 Larissa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: own

Hayaat is not your average thirteen year old; she will break laws and risk her life, and all for her ill grandmother.

Hayaat has grown up in Bethlehem but it is not where she was born. She is a Muslin and also a Palestinian, but most importantly she is a girl, a child living under occupation in the West Bank. Her life is a mixture of good days; going to school or skipping it to spend time with her friend Samy, and bad days; being locked in her home during curfew with her family for days on end.

Th...more

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May 14, 2011 Paula Weston rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult

One of the hardest things to do in fiction is tackle a complex issue and still deliver an engaging story.

Randa Abdel-Fattah, a Muslim of Palestinian and Egyptian heritage who grew up in Melbourne, has a strong literary track record of tackling the challenging topic of being a teenage girl of Middle Eastern descent in urban Australia.

Her breakthrough first novel, Does my head look big in this?, was a witty and enjoyable story about an Australian-Palestinian Muslim who decides to wear the hijab, a...more

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Apr 22, 2013 Mohammad AbuZer rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: pdf

لأنّ أحداث الرواية تدور في بيت لم والقدس كنت سأعطيها نجومًا أكثر، كان من الممكن للراوية ان تأخذ النجوم كاملة لولا بعض الأمور:
أوّلًا- أكثرت الكاتبة بشكل مبالغ فيه جدًا من السياقات البعيدة عن الذوق.

وثانيًا- هنالك بعض الهفوات غير البسيطة -إن جاز الوصف- التي تدل على ضعف وقصور معرفة الكاتبة بفلسطين ولو كان ذلك جزئيًا، مثل:
الأول: في أحد الفصول تذكر أنَّ شخصًا كان ينادي أمام مسجد عمر في وسط بيت لحم للتبرّع بالزكاة من أجل المقاتلين. (هكذا!)
ربّما اختلطت عليها فلسطين بأفغانستان (هذا إذا كانت أفغانستان كذل...more لأنّ أحداث الرواية تدور في بيت لم والقدس كنت سأعطيها نجومًا أكثر، كان من الممكن للراوية ان تأخذ النجوم كاملة لولا بعض الأمور:
أوّلًا- أكثرت الكاتبة بشكل مبالغ فيه جدًا من السياقات البعيدة عن الذوق.

وثانيًا- هنالك بعض الهفوات غير البسيطة -إن جاز الوصف- التي تدل على ضعف وقصور معرفة الكاتبة بفلسطين ولو كان ذلك جزئيًا، مثل:
الأول: في أحد الفصول تذكر أنَّ شخصًا كان ينادي أمام مسجد عمر في وسط بيت لحم للتبرّع بالزكاة من أجل المقاتلين. (هكذا!)
ربّما اختلطت عليها فلسطين بأفغانستان (هذا إذا كانت أفغانستان كذلك). فمن لديه أدنى معرفة بفلسطين يعرف أنّ حتى الكتابة على الجدارن تتمّ بسريّة تامة خوفًا من "عيون" الإحتلال الرسميّين (السلطة يعني) وغير الرسميين (العملاء يعني).

لفت نظري أيضًا عبارة مفتعلة بشكل غريب، عندما يقول سامي إنّه لم يرَ جملًا في حياته رغم أنّه من منطقة الشرق الأوسط. (هكذا) ربّما تظنّ أنّ هذا الطفل لديه نظرة استشراقيّة حول نفسه -_-، أو تظنّ كمعظم الغربيّين أنَّ الشرق الأوسط ما زال عالقًا في حقبة العصور الوسطى.

- وعلى سيرة النظرة الإستشراقيّة: أشارت في الرواية إلى العمليّات الإستشهادية وكأنّ الفلسطينيين يعتبرونا إجرامًا وسبب مشاكلهم، ربّما هذه فعلًا نظرة أبو مازن لكن ليس أحدًا سواه!

هفوة أخرى كانت لافتة: تقول في سياق الرواية إنّ كلمة "زلمة" لا يقولها سوى كبار السنّ وإنّه من المثير للسخرية أن يقولها طفل صغير، معلومة لا أدري من أين أتت بها، وهي تؤكّد الشكوك حول مدى معرفتها بفلسطين.

هناك أمر أخر مزعج لكنّه غير متعلّق بالكاتبة: الترجمة جيّدة، لكن الأسماء اختلقها المترجمان اختلاقًا لا علاقة له بالواقع، والأمثلة كثيرة جدًا.

على أيّة حال الرواية جيّدة.
--
"ليست هي قرية ستّي زينب، لكنّها نفحة من القدس وهذا يكفي."(less)

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Jul 23, 2011 Rebecca added it · review of another edition

There aren’t too many young adult novels set in the Middle East. Where the Streets had a Name is quite a refreshing and different read as it is set in the Middle East. Hayaat is on a mission to get soil from her grandmother’s home so that her grandmother will heal and get better health wise.
I really liked reading about Hayaat’s story as she told it. There was a lot of hinting about what had happened to Hayaat’s face but you don’t find out for quite a while. I thought that Hayaat was a really gre...more

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Jan 16, 2011 Dolly rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: anyone interested in life in the West Bank

Shelves: 2011, arabic-arabia, palestine, first-reads, jewish-israel, education-school, relationships, middle-grade

I won this book through Goodreads "Giveaways" and I am very thankful for the opportunity to read this book. It was such a sincere and heartfelt story and a small glimpse into life in the disputed territories in and around Israel and the West Bank. Life, death, love, hate, heartache and sorrow, joy and celebration...we see a little of all of this in this story and it was a very enchanting tale. People are shown as human - their anger, fear, compassion, and frustration come through clearly, especi...more

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Nov 18, 2008 Andrew rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Abdel-Fattah leaves her familiar subject of ethnic Australia, and explores the characters of youths living in a troubled society in the Middle East. However, this story, whilst tragic, is also very funny and uplifting, and celebrates the strength and hope that we can still gain through family, even in the harshest circumstances.

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Sep 28, 2010 sharon rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed-for-acl-or-slj, palestine

Physically and emotionally scarred, but spunky, Palestinian
thirteen-year old, Hayaat, lives behind the Israeli built Separation
Wall in the West Bank City of Bethlehem. When her beloved grandmother
falls ill, Hayaat decides to make her way to Jerusalem on a quest to
fill an empty hummus jar with soil from the land of her grandmother's
ancestral home. She is certain that this will mend her grandmother's
heart. Unfortunately, although Jerusalem is mere minutes away,
curfews, checkpoints and an identity...more

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Jun 14, 2011 Amira rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: palestine

Randa Abdel-Fattah is a brilliant writer. In her novel, she tackles a very serious and dark issue (Palestinian/Israeli conflict) with hope, compassion and surprisingly great humour. Hayaat, the main protagonist and narrator of the story is a 13-year-old Palestinian girl who lives with her family in the West Bank after the Israeli forces confiscated their land and drove them out of their home. Hayaat 's mission throughout the novel is to sneak into Jerusalem and bring back soil from her beloved d...more

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Sep 21, 2010 Betsy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

When I was a child I had a very vague sense of global conflicts in other countries. Because of my Bloom County comics I knew a bit about apartheid in South Africa. Later as a teen I heard The Cranberries sing “Zombie” and eventually learned a bit about the troubles in Northern Ireland. The Israeli/Palestinian conflict, however, had a lousy pop culture PR department. Nowhere in the whole of my childhood did I encounter anything that even remotely explained the problems there. Heck it wasn’t until...more When I was a child I had a very vague sense of global conflicts in other countries. Because of my Bloom County comics I knew a bit about apartheid in South Africa. Later as a teen I heard The Cranberries sing “Zombie” and eventually learned a bit about the troubles in Northern Ireland. The Israeli/Palestinian conflict, however, had a lousy pop culture PR department. Nowhere in the whole of my childhood did I encounter anything that even remotely explained the problems there. Heck it wasn’t until college that I got an inkling of what the deal was. Even then, it was difficult for me to comprehend. Kids today don’t have it much easier (and can I tell you how depressing it is to know that the troubles that existed when I was a child remain in place for children today?). They do, however, have a little more literature at their disposal. For younger kids there are shockingly few books. For older kids and teens, there are at least memoirs like Tasting the Sky: A Palestinian Childhood by Ibtisam Barakat or Palestine by Joe Sacco. What about the middle grade options? Historically there have been a couple chapter books covering the topic, but nothing particularly memorable comes to mind. Enter Where the Streets Had a Name by Randa Abdel-Fattah. Written by the acclaimed author of the YA novel Does My Head Look Big in This, Abdel-Fattah wades into waters that children’s book publishers generally shy away from. Hers is the hottest of hot topics, but she handles her subject matter with dignity and great storytelling.

Hayaat was beautiful once. That’s what her family would tell you. But since an accident involving the death of her best friend, she’s remained scarred and, to be blunt, scared. Hayaat lives in Bethlehem in the West Bank in 2004. Her family occupies a too small apartment and is preparing for the wedding of Hayaat’s sister Jihan. Unfortunately there are curfews to obey and constant checkpoints to pass. When Hayaat’s beloved Sitti Zeynab grows ill, Hayaat decides to put away the past and do the impossible. She will travel to her grandmother’s old home across the wall that divides the West Bank to bring some soil from in front of her old house. With her partner-in-crime Samy by her side, Hayaat reasons that the trip is attainable as it’s just a few miles. What she doesn’t count on, however, is the fact that for a Palestinian kid to make that trip, it may as well be halfway across the world. Hayaat, however, is determined and along the way she’s able to confront some of the demons from her past.

In a lot of ways this book is a good old-fashioned quest novel. You have your heroine, battle scarred, sending herself into a cold cruel world to gain the impossible. That the impossible would be a simple sample of soil doesn’t take anything away from the poignancy of her intent. By her side is her faithful sidekick, and along the way she meets a variety of different people. Some are bad, some are good, and all are human. So it's a quest novel, sure, but it's also a family dynamics novel. The story does a great job of making this an accessible novel to all kids so you believe in Hayaat’s family through and through. From her overbearing mother to her silent father to her grandmother, caught up in dreams and memories. You care about these people. You desperately want a happy ending for them.

Needless to say, if a person writes a book about Palestinians for kids, be it a picture book or a novel, it’s going to be considered a contentious subject. It’s easy to avoid such subjects. Most middle grade does. Abdel-Fattah is to be commended for her guts then. Though her critics will try to find fault with her depictions of Israel, Abdel-Fattah’s restraint is remarkable. There is a moment in this book when a curfew is in place and Hayaat peeks out at the streets at the Israeli soldiers patrolling there. She notes how young they are and how they must have families somewhere. That doesn’t stop her from remembering how her best friend was killed with rubber bullets, of course. Later we hear the tale from Hayaat’s grandmother of how she lost her home. When she and her husband went back, there were new residents living there. Through a translator they hear how the woman’s family died in the Holocaust and there’s that moment of feeling simultaneous pity and horror and anger. Regardless, one family has taken another family’s home which is wrong and not a difficult thing to understand. What Abdel-Fattah does is continually show that everyone in this situation is human. You’ll see similar techniques when authors write middle grade novels about Jim Crow in the American South. In those books you’ll usually find one sympathetic white person in the midst of racists. Similarly, this novel has Mali and David, two Israeli’s who object to the situation in the Middle East and have returned from their new country of residence to try and change things. Through their eyes you see that there is never a single way of thinking about something.

There are a lot of things I admire about this book but it’s the humor I particularly respect. This book is chock full of situations that are not funny. Curfews are not funny. Dehumanization of citizens is not funny. But between these bad times are moments of levity. You care deeply about Hayaat and her family and the little snatches of dialogue we get between characters can be telling. At one point Hayaat’s grandmother explains to her that husband was killed by getting run over by a car shortly after understanding that he’d never be able to return to his home. Hayaat interrupts by asking if he died of a broken heart. “ ‘Yes, of course it was,’ she says, looking confused. And every other part of his body. It was a big car’.”

There were a couple practical storytelling elements I would have changed, had I the power. For example, the moment when Hayaat pours the Jerusalem soil over her grandmother’s hands occurs on page 237. Yet we have a good seventy pages left to go at that point. Admittedly, there’s a lot of backstory to sum up. There’s Jihan’s wedding and the street kid that convinces Samy that he might contain the key to getting out of this life. Still, it was surprising to get past the most exciting elements of the book only to find everything was to be slowly slowly rectified. Another thing I would have included was an Author’s Note on the history of the region. The book sort of makes the assumption that kids are already aware of the history of Palestine and what it has been through. It assumes that they know why there are Israeli soldiers and checkpoints. Even a map of the region would have been important, particularly if it showed the remarkably short route Hayaat and Samy attempt to take. It would be interesting to hand this book to a kid who knew nothing about Israel/Palestine and see how much they comprehend. I suspect that this book would appeal to such kids with a yen for contemporary realistic fiction, but it would pair even better with taught units about Israel/Palestine today.

Getting kids to care about children like themselves in other countries is difficult. Getting kids to care about children in countries they may not have even heard of before is even more difficult. Certainly this book pairs beautifully with Barakat’s aforementioned Tasting the Sky. Both books beautifully convey an untenable situation that cries out for resolution. Abdel-Fattah’s book fills a massive gap in collections everywhere. This is a book worth reading. Hopefully lots of folks will.

For ages 9-12.
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Jan 14, 2011 Becky marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: age-middle-school

I liked this author's Does my head look big in this? a lot.

Goodreads description:

Thirteen-year-old Hayaat 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, and Hayaat's best friend Samy, who is always a troublemaker. But luck is on their side. Hayaat and Samy have a curfew-free day to travel to...more

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Mar 20, 2012 Heather rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, multicultural-titles, young-adult-books-i-would-recommend

Hayaat's tale is a very interesting and believable story of Palestinian life. This might be a good balance to The Shepherd's Granddaughter by Ann Laurel Carter. Ms. Carter's book made me very angry at the Israeli side of the Israeli/Palestinian conflicts. Ms. Abdel-Fattah's book didn't make me any happier with them, but I appreciated the frequent sentiments of Hayaat's grandmother and other relatives that you can't walk around holding the anger in your heart forever. Sure, there's still anger, b...more

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Oct 25, 2012 Bara'a Muhammad rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

من أروع الروايات التي قرأتها...و هذا أكثر موقف أحببته:

أقول لراغب بعد أن هدأ الجميع وسادت السكينة في السيارة: " هذا الجندي لطيف أليس كذلك"

يقول لي راغب في صوت خفيض: " يذكرني هذا الموقف بقصة قرأتها في طفولتي هل تريدين أن أحكيها يا حياة؟ " عندما رآني اومئ استمر في حكايته: " كان يا ما كان، كان هناك صياد خرج إلى الغابة ليصطاد. وفي الغابة رأى شجرة تمتلئ بالطيور فصوب بندقيته ناحيتها فأصاب الكثيرين، بعض الطيور مات وبعضها أصيب. بدأ الصياد في التقاط الطيور الميتة وقتل الطيور المصابة بسكينه.

و أثناء انهماكه...more

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May 21, 2013 ala' rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

بدأ الكتاب جميلا وممتعا وساخرا وحادا ، وحتى مثيرا للضحك بدرجة من الدرجات ، و البطلة الصغيرة حياة وصديقها سامي كانا يزينان الكتاب ويجعلانه حيا جدا ، كان استرسال الكاتبة جيد بل وممتاز ، وهناك فقرات طويلة وحوارات أرى أنها جيدة جدا .

ثم وقع الكتاب بالكليشيه الأبدي لأي شخص يكتب لليافعين في العالم عن فلسطين ، لا بد من الحديث عن " انسانية الاحتلال " و "نشطاء السلام " والخ ، بمرحلة من المراحل بدا أن رندة تتقن اللعبة جيدا وتستطيع أن تقيم حوارا وتقيما وربما رفضا و وعي لما تقدمه ، ولكنه في فصول أخرى كاملة...more

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Apr 09, 2013 Nihad rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

سردية ممتعة
أكثر ما يمكنني أن أقوله عنها أنها تصور الحرب من منظور مختلف بعيد عن الشاشات و الخطابات و الأخبار العاجلة التي لا نعرف غيرها نحن القاطنون على الجانب الآخر من المأساة،
كيف أن الحرب تصبح شيئا اعتياديا لا يلتفت إليه إلا حين تباغتك التفاصيل،
كيف أننا الجاهلون بحقيقتها ندافع و نشجب و نستنكر لنظهر تعاطفنا و دعمنا و رفضنا بينما تتغلغل القضية في جسد أصحابها للدرجة حتى تصبح من المسلمات كالتنفس تماما،
ربما ينظرون إلى هتافاتنا و شجبنا و استنكارنا بعين هازئة ترد علينا بأننا جاهلون جدا،
تجعلنا للرواية...more

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Jul 09, 2011 Sherry rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: literature, young-adult-fiction

This was a fun book to read, but I could have used without the frequent remarks to "farting". I love the relationship that she has with her grandmother. Not unlike my own. The reader immediately gets the intense love and bond between them. I love the relationship she has with her friend Samy....even though he is a boy...this reminds me of my own relationship with Totsie and how we seemed to balance each other out from 3rd grade on. This is a good read for middle school but I feel it is too immat...more

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Jun 18, 2013 The Airship Librarian rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book is so very human. This is its greatest asset.
Written by a Palestinian woman, it shows life in the Palestinian/Israeli conflict.

Told from the point of view of a little girl living in Bethlehem, this has a refreshing point of view. It's not the adults on either side, it's the children. It shows what it can be like to grow up during conflict. It shows how both sides are human.

There isn't much to say about this book, really. Hayaat has a sweet, innocent voice, the characters are likable...more

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Feb 19, 2012 Kristen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: multicultural, youngadult, realistic-fiction

Where the Streets Had a Name is a tale set in Palestine. Hayaat is a young girl who cares deeply for her family. When her grandmother's life is in danger, she decides she must cross over into Jerusalem to bring her back a handful of dirt from her original home. The story she was told by her grandmother moved her deeply and she believes this is the only way to save her. Her best friend Samy accompanies her, but they find a difficult journey ahead, as they do not have the correct permits to travel...more

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About Randa Abdel-Fattah

Randa Abdel-Fattah was born in Sydney in 1979. She is a Muslim of Palestinian and Egyptian heritage. She grew up in Melbourne and attended a Catholic primary school and Islamic secondary college where she obtained an International Baccaularetate. She studied Arts/Law at Melbourne University during which time she was the Media Liaison Officer at the Islamic council of Victoria, a role which afforde...more Randa Abdel-Fattah was born in Sydney in 1979. She is a Muslim of Palestinian and Egyptian heritage. She grew up in Melbourne and attended a Catholic primary school and Islamic secondary college where she obtained an International Baccaularetate. She studied Arts/Law at Melbourne University during which time she was the Media Liaison Officer at the Islamic council of Victoria, a role which afforded her the opportunity to write for newspapers and engage with media institutions about their representation of Muslims and Islam.

During university and her role at the ICV, Randa was a passionate human rights advocate and stood in the 1996 federal election as a member of the Unity Party-Say No To Hanson. Randa has also been deeply interested in inter-faith dialogue and has been a member of various inter-faith networks. She also volunteered with different human rights and migrant resource organisations including the Australian Arabic council, the Victorian migrant resource centre, Islamic women’s welfare council, Palestine human rights campaign, Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, to name a few.

Randa has used her writing as a medium for expressing her views about the occupation of Palestine. Her articles about Palestine, Australian Muslims and the misunderstood status of women in Islam have been published in the Australian, the Age, the Sydney Morning Herald, the Canberra Times, New Matilda, Le Monde (France).

Randa is frequently sought for comment by the media on issues pertaining to Palestine, Islam or Australian Muslims. She has appeared on SBS’s Insight, ABC’s First Tuesday Book Club, ABC’s Q & A, Channel 7’s Sunrise and Channel 10’s 9am.

Randa is also a regular guest at schools around Australia addressing students about her books and the social justice issues they raise. Randa has also been a guest at Sweden’s Gothenburg and Litterlund book festivals (2007 and 2008) and Kuala Lumpur’s Book festival (2008). She has also toured in Brunei and the UK.

Randa lives in Sydney with her husband and their two children. She works as a litigation lawyer. (less)

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