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Defying Expectations: Arabic Young Adult Literature

April 2020

This month’s feature brings together excerpts from three Arabic young adult novels in which young women defy expectations set by their families, society—and even themselves.

Time-Travelers, Fisherwomen, and Sleuths: Arabic Young Adult Literature

By Elisabeth Jaquette

While Arabic publishing has historically focused on literature for adults and young children, recent years have seen an increasing number of titles aimed at a young adult readership.

Mossy rocks at the edge of the coastline in Gaza

Photo by Emad El Byed on Unsplash

Against the Tide

By Taghreed Najjar

A young woman defies societal expectations to become Gaza’s first fisherwoman in this excerpt from Taghreed Najjar’s YA novel Against the Tide.

Translated from Arabic by Elisabeth Jaquette

Thunderbird

“It seems that Noor set fire to another student’s backpack.”

Translated from Arabic by M. Lynx Qualey

Black Saturday

By Djamila Morani

“Soothsayers tell the truth even when they’re lying.”

Translated from Arabic by Sawad Hussain