This book tackles a really important conversation- the cyclical nature of domestic violence in family systems and cultures when not addressed and dismantled. In addition to young teen girls finding their own paths in some very traditional Arab families when it comes to marrying young and having a family. 

We get the POV of three women in the book: 

Isra: A young Palestinian woman who immigrates to the United States from Palestine and marries Adam. Isra deals with the pressure to produce a son in order to be seen as worthy for the family. She also is dealing with domestic violence and depression as a result of feeling out of control with her life circumstances and having to fulfil a role as mother and wife. 

Deya: a young teen girl who is navigating the loss of her parents, trying to figure out her path and pressure to marry and continue her role as a woman in the family to continue the family line, but she wants to understand her parents and if she has another choice. 

Fareeda : Is the matriarch of the family, she immigrated from Palestine to the United States and is Isra’s mother-in-law. She experiences domestic violence when her children were younger and has been raised to see the worth of women to produce a male son to care for the family line. 

This book packs a punch, it is beautiful, harrowing, raw and shows the cycles of family violence. I had tears streaming down my face at points of this book, I felt pride, anger and joy it truly evokes so much in you and is one that will sit with me for a very long time.