American Book Awards
1 appearances
-
Edition 37 (2016) Winner
Susan Muaddi Darraj
スーザン・ムアッディ・ダラージ
Susan Muaddi Darraj
Profile
- Gender
- Female
- Born
- 1975-05-11 （Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States）
- Nationality
- United States, Palestinian American
- Languages
- English
- Residence History
- Philadelphia (birthplace) → Baltimore, Maryland (residence)
Career
- Occupations
- Writer, College Professor, Essayist
- Active Years
- 2000-
- Influenced By
- Naguib Mahfouz, Amy Tan
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rutgers University–Camden | — | English Literature | MA | 1998-2000 | United States |
Rutgers University–Camden
English Literature
Degree:
MA
Period:
1998-2000
Year of Graduation:
2000
Country:
United States
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Maryland State Arts Council (state-level winner) | — | — | Maryland State Arts Council | winner |
| 2021 | Arab American Book Award | Farah Rocks (children's book series) | — | Arab American Museum / Arab American Book Award | winner |
| 2021 | Ruby's Artist Grant (Robert W. Deutsch Foundation) | — | — | Robert W. Deutsch Foundation | recipient |
| 2018 | United States Artists Ford Fellowship | — | — | United States Artists | fellowship |
| 2016 | American Book Award | A Curious Land | — | Before Columbus Foundation | winner |
| 2016 | Arab American Book Award | A Curious Land | — | Arab American Museum | winner |
| 2015 | John Gardner Fiction Award | — | — | Binghamton University (John Gardner Award) | winner |
| 2014 | Grace Paley Award (AWP) | A Curious Land | — | Association of Writers & Writing Programs (AWP) | winner |
Maryland State Arts Council (state-level winner)
2022
Organization:
Maryland State Arts Council
Result:
winner
Arab American Book Award
2021
Work:
Farah Rocks (children's book series)
Organization:
Arab American Museum / Arab American Book Award
Result:
winner
Ruby's Artist Grant (Robert W. Deutsch Foundation)
2021
Organization:
Robert W. Deutsch Foundation
Result:
recipient
United States Artists Ford Fellowship
2018
Organization:
United States Artists
Result:
fellowship
American Book Award
2016
Work:
A Curious Land
Organization:
Before Columbus Foundation
Result:
winner
Arab American Book Award
2016
Work:
A Curious Land
Organization:
Arab American Museum
Result:
winner
John Gardner Fiction Award
2015
Organization:
Binghamton University (John Gardner Award)
Result:
winner
Grace Paley Award (AWP)
2014
Work:
A Curious Land
Organization:
Association of Writers & Writing Programs (AWP)
Result:
winner
Awards & Nominations
Arab American Book Award
1 appearances
-
Edition 10 (2016) Winner
PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction
1 appearances
-
Edition 45 (2025) Nominee
Works
Major Works
The Inheritance of Exile
2008 Short story collection 208 pagesA collection of interlinked stories set in South Philadelphia, focusing on Palestinian American women and their immigrant mothers, exploring identity, family, and generational memory.
IdentityImmigrant experienceFamilyDiaspora
A Curious Land
2015 Linked short stories / mosaic novel 240 pagesA mosaic novel following inhabitants of the fictional West Bank village Tel al-Hilou across nearly a century, tracing love, loss, and life amid historical upheaval.
HistoryLoveCommunityLoss of homeland
Farah Rocks
2020 Children's book series 32 pagesA children's book series about Palestinian American girl Farah Hajjar; noted as one of the first North American children's series to feature a Palestinian American protagonist.
DiversityChild self-esteemEveryday adventures
Behind You Is the Sea
2024 Novel (mosaic novel) 352 pagesAn episodic novel centered on three Palestinian immigrant families in Baltimore, portraying intergenerational conflicts, class tensions, and questions of belonging.
ImmigrationIntergenerational conflictRace and class
Bibliography
- Farah Rocks (children's book series) 2020-2021
- A Curious Land: Stories from Home (short story collection) 2015
- Approaches to Teaching the Works of Naguib Mahfouz (co-edited) 2012
- The Inheritance of Exile: Stories from South Philly (short story collection) 2008
- Scheherazade's Legacy: Arab and Arab-American Women’s Voices on Writing (editor) 2004
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Mosaic/linked-story structureRealist prose focusing on character detailDialogue-driven, accessible narrative voice
- Recurring Motifs
- Homeland and remembranceFamily continuityTension between faith and everyday life
Legacy
A writer who has broadened U.S. literary representation of Palestinian American experiences across fiction and children's literature; also known for cultural advocacy such as the #TweetYourThobe campaign.
Academic Societies
- Modern Language Association (engaged)
In Popular Culture
- #TweetYourThobe social media campaign (2019)
Quotes
-
"If you want to know the challenges that Palestinian Americans face in the U.S., you must read this book."
Source: NPR (review of Behind You Is the Sea) (2024)
Trivia
- Launched the #TweetYourThobe campaign in 2019, which gained wide attention.
- Farah Rocks is among the first North American children's series to feature a Palestinian American protagonist.
- Serves as a tenured English professor at Harford Community College and a Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing at Johns Hopkins University (as of latest reports).