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Maria Dadouch

マリア・ダドゥーシュ

Maria Dadouch

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1970-01-01 （Damascus, Syria）
Nationality
Syrian
Languages
Arabic, English
Residence History
Damascus, Syria → United States (moved 2011)

Career

Occupations
writer, novelist, screenwriter, children's author
Active Years
2005-

Education

University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
Creative Writing
Degree: 学位（クリエイティブ・ライティング）
Year of Graduation: 2015
Country: United States

Awards

Katara Prize for Arabic Novel
2018
Work: The Planet of Uncertainties
Category: ヤングアダルト
Organization: Katara Cultural Village / Katara Prize
Result: 受賞
Shoman Prize for Science Fiction
2019
Work: I Want Golden Eyes
Category: サイエンスフィクション
Organization: Al-Shoman Foundation
Result: 受賞
Khalifa Award for Education
2020
Work: The Heart Which Is Totally Behind the Rib
Category: 教育関連
Organization: Khalifa Award
Result: 受賞
Arab Publishers Forum Prize
2020
Work: I and Him
Organization: Arab Publishers Forum
Result: 受賞
Etisalat Award for Arabic Children's Literature
2021
Work: My Pants Are Short on Me
Category: 絵本（ピクチャーブック）
Organization: Etisalat
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

The Planet of Uncertainties

2019 Young adult novel

A novel exploring uncertainty and the inner lives of young people, addressing social and psychological themes.

uncertaintycoming-of-ageidentity

I Want Golden Eyes

2019 Science fiction

A science-fiction novel blending futuristic imagery with social critique.

futuretechnology and humanitysocial critique

The Heart Which Is Totally Behind the Rib

2020 Novel

A figurative, introspective work focusing on human relationships and memory.

memoryrelationshipsintrospection

The Bad White

2019 Novel

A novel dealing with social themes. Detailed synopsis not available.

societyethics

Omar and Oliver

Children's book

One of her children's books; a bilingual picture book published in English.

friendshipcultural exchange
Translations
  • Published in English

A Fly Over a Pond

Children's book

A children's story; one of the works that has an English translation.

adventurecuriosity
Translations
  • Published in English

Bibliography

  • The Syrian Refugee Crisis: A Mug With a Lid (English original, 2015)
  • The Puzzle of the Wooden Door (2016)
  • The Planet of Uncertainties (2019)
  • I Want Golden Eyes (2019)
  • The Heart Which Is Totally Behind the Rib (2020)
  • Numerous children's books (including Omar and Oliver, A Fly Over a Pond, etc.)

Translations of Works

  • Omar and Oliver — translated into English
  • A Fly Over a Pond — translated into English

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Blend of contemporary social realism and figurative/magical elementsClear, accessible voice for children's literature
Recurring Motifs
migration and refugee experiencechildhood perspectivememory and identity

Legacy

As a contemporary Syrian writer she is active in both adult fiction and children's literature. She has received several Arabic literary awards and is known for contributions to English translations of children's books and programs training new authors.

Trivia

  • Helped establish the teenage magazine Fulla in 2005 and wrote articles and stories for it.
  • Moved to the United States in 2011 following the war in Syria.
  • Earned a degree in Creative Writing from UCLA in 2015.
  • Invited to an Art OMI writing residency in 2017.
  • Created a creative writing program for Asafeer that contributed to producing children's books and training mainly women authors.
  • Some children's books, such as Omar and Oliver and A Fly Over a Pond, have English editions.