When Jacob Nammar was a young boy growing up in Harret al-Nammareh, his
family, his friends, and the streets of his West Jerusalem neighborhood
were the center of his life. It wasn't long, however, before his
existence was turned upside down when his family was forced out of their
home during al-nakba, the catastrophe that resulted in the ethnic
cleansing of nearly 750,000 natives and the destruction of over 500
Palestinian villages and towns. In this heartwarming memoir, Jacob
paints a vivid portrait of Palestinian life--from his childhood days in
pre-1948 Jerusalem, the struggles of the Palestinian community under
Israeli rule, to his ultimate decision to leave for America at age 23.
Readers will laugh, cry, and be inspired by this charming coming of age
story set amid the backdrop of one of the most tragic historical events
that engulfed the region.