“Mothers carry the entire family—arguably the entire world—on their shoulders. That’s why heaven lies under their feet.”

What a beautiful story about the resilience, bravery, courage and shame that live within the hearts of Arab American women.

Etaf Rum’s voice was heartbreakingly honest and a reminder of the power in telling our stories, even when the world around us tries to silence us.

As an Italian Canadian, I identified with the themes of intergenerational trauma and the difficulty of trying to break that cycle. How interesting it was to see others struggle with the knowledge that our family does the best they can, with what they have but that this isn’t always enough or what’s best for us.

I can’t speak more highly about this book & all of the ways it made me think deeply about the different experiences of being someone who identifies as a women in this world.