Jumia Books Morning in Jenin by Susan Abulhawa

Morning in Jenin by Susan Abulhawa is a multi-generational novel that traces the story of the Abulheja family, Palestinian olive farmers from the village of Ein Hod. Their peaceful life is shattered in 1948 when Israeli statehood is declared, and they are forced into a refugee camp in Jenin. During the chaos, baby Ismael is taken from his mother by an Israeli soldier and raised as David, an Israeli who grows up unaware of his true origins and ultimately fights against his own people157.

The novel follows Amal, Ismael’s sister, who is born in the Jenin camp. She survives the loss and trauma of war, the disappearance of her father, and the mental breakdown of her mother. Amal eventually leaves Jenin to pursue education and later raises her daughter, Sara, in America, forever marked by the loss of her homeland and family. Years later, a reunion with her long-lost brother David prompts Amal and her daughter to return to their homeland, confronting the pain and hope that remain157.

The book spans four generations and five countries, exploring themes of love, loss, war, identity, and resilience, while humanizing the Palestinian experience amid one of the world’s most enduring conflicts578.

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