A MAP FOR FALASTEEN

A young girl turns to her family members to help her answer the question, “Why isn’t Palestine on the map?”

Falasteen and her schoolmates sit around a world map searching for their countries of origin. When Falasteen asks why she can’t find Palestine, her teacher responds, “I think there’s no such place.” A concerned Falasteen goes home after school, eager for answers. Her grandfather, grandmother, and mother each provide a response that tells her family’s story and strengthens her sense of identity. Drawing inspiration from her own grandmother’s experience of displacement in 1967, the author tells a poignant story of longing and sadness mixed with a persistent hope for a return to a historic homeland and reunification with family. The book is notable for both its honesty and its sensitivity on the topics of “settler colonialism” (a term defined in the backmatter) and expulsion. Incorporating cultural touchstones such as spinach pies and the winding branches of olive trees, Betawi’s delicately beautiful illustrations evoke nostalgia for a place dear to Falasteen and her family’s hearts. Odeh walks a fine line, framing her story in a way that young readers will readily understand while never sugarcoating difficult realities. Her book fills a gap in representations of the Palestinian diaspora, offering a much-needed insider’s perspective. The author’s note provides vital personal and historical context, making this an invaluable teaching tool.

A haunting, powerful, and crucial tale of culture and identity.