Big Books of Spring
Salt Houses

Questions About Salt Houses

by Hala Alyan

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Answered Questions (5)

Does this book have a political bias?
Nyla What a stupid question. Is there objectivity in the plight of people dispossessed by colonization and the destruction of their land? As usual, any tim…moreWhat a stupid question. Is there objectivity in the plight of people dispossessed by colonization and the destruction of their land? As usual, any time a Palestinian story is put out there, someone thinks there is something "wrong" or "biased." No, they are people like any other people. With a homeland that was colonized, like many others. Read history, idiot who asked this question.(less)
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So... Why is it titled Salt Houses? Anyone know the significance?
Briony This was her statement:

And what’s the story behind the title?

It was actually titled something different at first, but when we finished all the edits a…moreThis was her statement:

And what’s the story behind the title?

It was actually titled something different at first, but when we finished all the edits and it was time to send it out, my agent was like, “You need to change the title. It’s not relevant.”

So I was going over different notes, and thinking about the themes that were most salient in the book, which words were repeated. Obviously there were houses, homes. And I thought about this one scene, where one of the characters talks about remembering all of the different houses that he and his family have lived in over the decades, and thinking of them as structures made of salt that the tide can come and erase. Salt houses. That was it.

http://www.bkmag.com/2017/05/04/hala-...
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What happened to Mustafa during the 6 day war? Do we ever know explicitly or is it only hinted at? Atef hints that he knew what happened and didn't want to tell so he just says he died, but I am unclear if we ever actually found out.
Martina McGowan
This answer contains spoilers… (view spoiler)
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What reading level is this, middle school, high school, young adult?
Jerilyn The reading level is adult. High school students might appreciate the topic tied to contemporary world history.
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Is this book appropriate for upper middle schoolers?
Sultana I would say this book is 18+, because of some scènes That are not appropiate for middle schoolers.
It is also shelved for adults …moreI would say this book is 18+, because of some scènes That are not appropiate for middle schoolers.
It is also shelved for adults (less)
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Unanswered Questions (1)

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