Just So Stories

UQP

February 2026

February 2026

ISBN: 9780702271076

RRP: $14.99

Sara Haddad has adapted her well-received and highly topical adult novella to this edition for younger readers. While most would try to shield children from the horrors of wars and genocides, there is no doubt that there would be some who know of the struggle for control of the Gaza strip.  But even many adults are uncomprehending of the true but controversial history of this piece of homeland for Palestinians.

Written from a child’s perspective as a now old woman recalls her early life, this slender volume recounts the experience of one child, one family, one homeland in the Nakba.

Until 1948 Nabila lived happily in her village, playing with friends, running amongst the olive trees, excited to soon be starting school – a simple life but one of joys and pleasures. Until the bombs start falling. When shrapnel hit her, Nabila was in grave trouble but a kind woman took her to shelter and after some days she began to recover, though her wounds remained.

When her father found her, he took her to the olive grove, where they would have to remain while bombs rained down, soldiers invaded and Nabila’s dreams of school were shattered. 

For months the family took refuge in the olive grove until that was no longer safe and then there was a long trek to Lebanon, leaving their house and all their worldly goods behind like many others. The city they went to was noisy and crowded but at least there were no bombs. After a time, with the help of her older brother, the family was able to get all the family passports and tickets to a new country. A new country, with different mountains, different and strange animals but again, no bombs. 

And so the now old lady finishes telling her sad story to ten-year-old Zane who, along with his parents, has joined Nabila and many others at protest marches and rallies in the city.

This is a narrative that will bring any reader to tears and is so powerfully told, even in its very simplicity that there can be no mistaking the injustices it recounts. The author’s notes in the backmatter further explain how the Nakba came about – to the eternal shame of those who instigated it and perpetrated the ongoing results.

Sensitive readers will need a disclaimer and should be aware of where they can find some debriefing if needed. From me it’s a 5 🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉rating but exercise caution as to your readers.