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Susan Abulhawa

スーザン・アブルハワ

Susan Abulhawa

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1970-06-03 （Kuwait）
Nationality
Palestinian, American
Languages
English, Arabic
Residence History
Kuwait (birth) → United States (childhood) → Jordan (residence with relatives) → Palestine (orphanage residence) → United States (foster care)

Career

Occupations
activist, scientist, writer
Active Years
2001-

Education

Pfeiffer University
Biology
Degree: B.Sc.
Country: United States
Undergraduate studies in Biology
University of South Carolina School of Medicine
Neuroscience / Biomedical Science
Degree: M.Sc. (Neuroscience / Biomedical Science)
Country: United States
Completed graduate work in neuroscience and worked in pharmaceutical research

Awards

Arab American Book Award (Winner)
Organization: Arab American National Museum
Result: Winner
Leeway Foundation Edna Andrade Award
2003
Category: フィクション / 創作ノンフィクション
Organization: The Leeway Foundation
Result: Winner
Best Books Award for Historic Fiction
Category: Historic Fiction
Result: Winner
MEMO Palestine Book Award
2013
Organization: Palestine Book Awards (MEMO)
Result: Honoured
Barbara Deming Memorial Fund Award
Organization: Barbara Deming Memorial Fund
Result: Winner
Aspen Words Literary Prize (Finalist)
2021
Work: Against the Loveless World
Organization: Aspen Institute / Aspen Words
Result: Finalist
Palestine Book Awards (2020 Winner)
2020
Organization: Palestine Book Awards
Result: Winner
Rathbones Folio Prize (Long-listed)
Organization: Folio Prize
Result: Long-listed
Athenaeum of Philadelphia Literary Award (Finalist)
2020
Organization: Athenaeum of Philadelphia
Result: Finalist

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Mornings in Jenin (originally The Scar of David)

2006 Historical fiction / Family epic

A multigenerational family epic that traces the effects of the Israeli occupation and displacement on Palestinians. Set around Jenin refugee camp and several countries, it explores loss, memory, and the right of return.

lossright of returnfamilymemory
Translations
  • Translated into 32 languages

The Blue Between Sky and Water

2015 Family novel / Romance

Set in Gaza City, the novel centers on family, love, and loss, portraying life under occupation through intimate personal stories of hope and grief.

lovelosseveryday resistance
Translations
  • Translated into 19 languages

Against the Loveless World

2020 Political romance / Social novel

A story that moves between the political and the personal, examining love, anger, and the search for justice. The novel received critical acclaim.

justiceangerhuman relationships

My Voice Sought the Wind

2013 Poetry

A collection of lyrical poems addressing themes of diaspora, loss, and identity.

diasporaselfmemory

Bibliography

  • The Scar of David (republished as Mornings in Jenin)
  • Mornings in Jenin
  • The Blue Between Sky and Water
  • Against the Loveless World
  • My Voice Sought the Wind (poetry)
  • Short pieces and anthology contributions (Shattered Illusions, Searching Jenin, etc.)

Translations of Works

  • Mornings in Jenin translated into 32 languages
  • The Blue Between Sky and Water translated into 19 languages

Style & Themes

Literary Style
politically charged romantic fictionepic, character-driven narrativesdirect and emotive voice
Recurring Motifs
displacement and returnfamily bondsmemory and traumahope and resistance

Legacy

With the international success of Mornings in Jenin, she became one of the most widely read Palestinian authors. Through her writing and activism she has brought Palestinian narratives to global attention and influenced social and educational initiatives.

Quotes

  • The publication and wide translation of Mornings in Jenin showed that our story can reach the world.
    Source: Author interviews / book publicity (summary) (2010)
  • Imagine Germany never acknowledged the Jewish holocaust... then imagine a show inviting sons and daughters of Nazis to discuss it with a token Jew 'to balance out' the conversation.
    Source: 2013 letter explaining refusal to appear on Al Jazeera panel (2013)

Trivia

  • Founded Playgrounds for Palestine in 2001.
  • Debut novel was translated into 32 languages and reportedly sold over one million copies.
  • Spent childhood moving between Kuwait, the United States, Jordan and Palestine.