Shihab’s writing is a tad elementary, sometimes repetitive and in need of a solid editor to help ideas flow a little better. I always felt like Shihab was about to break the surface into something more insightful, but the retellings remain pretty superficial. Some stylistic devices were made me suspect they were derived from Arabic storytelling techniques, but they didnt succeed here. Shihab was a reporter for the Dallas News and a journalist all his life, so I was a bit surprised that his career did little to strengthen this memoir.

Still, the poignant elements of this memoir made it a worthy read. I was so glad to read an account of a Palestinian who emigrated to my hometown. This is an easy read with a potentially powerful take on Israeli occupation that I wish had gone farther, grappled more, and delved deeper. 3 stars.