Susan Muaddi Darraj

Susan Muaddi Darraj’s short story collection, A Curious Land: Stories from Home, was named the winner of the AWP Grace Paley Prize for Short Fiction, judged by Jaime Manrique. It also won the 2016 Arab American Book Award, a 2016 American Book Award, and was shortlisted for a Palestine Book Award. In 2018, she was named a Ford Fellow by USA Artists. In 2019, she launched the viral #TweetYourThobe social media campaign to promote Palestinian culture. Later that year, she was named winner of the Rose Nader Award, by the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), an award given by the Nader family to a person who “demonstrates an unwavering dedication and commitment to values of equality and justice.” Recently, Capstone Books launched her debut children’s chapter book series, Farah Rocks, about a smart, brave Palestinian American girl named Farah Hajjar; it is the first chapter book series to feature an Arab American protagonist.

Behind You Is the Sea

Susan Muaddi Darraj

When I walk out of the store empty-handed, the old man gives me a gummy smile. As I
drive down the street towards Guilford, I know there won’t be a drive-thru. This is not a value
menu kind of neighborhood. I’ll prepare better tomorrow, after I survive today.

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By Susan Muaddi Darraj