World Literary Awards

← Back to Home

Maya Abu Al-Hayyat

マヤ・アブ・アル＝ハイヤット

Maya Abu Al-Hayyat

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1980-01-01 （Beirut, Lebanon）
Nationality
Palestinian
Languages
Arabic, English
Residence History
Beirut, Lebanon → Jordan (Amman and elsewhere) → Tunis, Tunisia → Nablus (study) → Jerusalem (resident)

Career

Occupations
writer, novelist, poet, storyteller, translator, screenwriter, actress, children's author
Active Years
2004-
Affiliations
Palestine Writing Workshop, Palestine Writing Association

Education

An-Najah National University
Civil Engineering
Degree: Bachelor's degree
Period: 1999–2003
Year of Graduation: 2003
Country: Palestine (Nablus)
Earned a bachelor's in civil engineering before moving into literary and cultural work

Awards

Young Creative Writer Award
2005
Organization: Ministry of Culture
Result: 受賞
Young Writer Award for Poetry
2006
Organization: A.M. Qattan Foundation
Result: 受賞
Etisalat Award for Arabic Children’s Literature (Best Illustration)
2016
Work: The Blue Pool of Questions
Category: 最優秀イラストレーション
Organization: Etisalat Award committee
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Habbat Min Al-Sukkar (Beads of Sugar)

2004 Novel

An early novel exploring memory, community and fragments of daily life.

memoryfamilyidentity

La Ahad Yarifu Zumrat Damih (No One Knows Their Blood Type)

2013 Novel

A novel addressing personal histories and social divisions. The work received an AFAC Horizons grant in 2011.

divisionmemoryregional identity
Translations
  • English translation (translated by Hazem Jamjoum)

The Blue Pool of Questions

2016 Children's literature

A collection of poems and short pieces for children; notable for its illustrations and issued in English translation.

childhoodcuriosityimagination
Translations
  • English translation (translated by Hanan Awad; Penny Candy Books, 2017)

Ma Qalat'hu Fih (What She Said About It)

2007 Poetry collection

A poetry collection that delicately explores emotions and everyday details.

personal emotionfemale perspectivememory

Bibliography

  • 2004: Habbat Min Al-Sukkar
  • 2007: Ma Qalat'hu Fih (poetry)
  • 2011: Ataba Thaqilat Al-Ruh
  • 2013: No One Knows Their Blood Type
  • 2016: The Blue Pool of Questions (children's book)
  • Various other children's books and poetry collections

Translations by Author

  • The Red Bird (by Astrid Lindgren)
  • Kolka (by Bengt Olson)
  • The Old Man Who Broke All Barriers (by Catherine Engelman)

Translations of Works

  • The Blue Pool of Questions (English translation by Hanan Awad, 2017)
  • You Can Be the Last Leaf: Selected Poems (translated by Fady Joudah, 2024)
  • No One Knows Their Blood Type (English translation by Hazem Jamjoum, 2024)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
lyrical style attentive to everyday detailclear, image-rich language for children's work
Recurring Motifs
memory and personal historychildhood and coming-of-agefamily and belongingdisplacement and movement

Legacy

An influential contemporary Palestinian writer particularly known for children's literature and poetry. She has energized regional literary activity through translations and running writing workshops.

Trivia

  • She earned a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from An-Najah National University (graduated 2003).
  • Contributed to and appeared in children's TV programmes including Iftah Ya Simsim (Arabic Sesame Street).
  • The Blue Pool of Questions was recognized for its illustration and received an Etisalat Award category prize.
  • Served as director of the Palestine Writing Workshop, organizing creative writing programmes.
  • Has acting credits, including the film 'Love, Theft and Other Problems'.