Purchase to Support Our Program

“Abdel-Fattah manages to walk the line of truth-telling and sensitivity. She has avoided vilifying Israelis and, in fact, Hayaat and Samy could not have completed their journey without the help of a Jewish Israeli couple sympathetic to their cause. A cast of quirky characters adds both humor and realism to the story, making the devastating circumstances more palatable to young readers and keeping the story light in spite of a heavy topic and some dark realizations as the plot moves forward.”
—School Library Journal

Where the Streets Had a Name

Written by Randa Abdel-Fattah
Published by Scholastic, Inc.

Thirteen-year-old Hayaat is on a mission. She believes a handful of soil from her grandmother’s ancestral home in Jerusalem will save her beloved Sitti Zeynab’s life. The only problem is that Hayaat and her family live behind the impenetrable wall that divides the West Bank, and they’re on the wrong side of checkpoints, curfews, and the travel permit system. Plus, Hayaat’s best friend Samy always manages to attract trouble. But luck is on the pair’s side as they undertake the journey to Jerusalem from the Palestinian Territories when Hayaat and Samy have a curfew-free day to travel.

Primary ISBN: 9780545172929
Publication Date: November 2010
Available As: Hardcover, Audiobook
Publication Status: Hardcover Publisher Out of Stock
Young Adult, Age 12 or older

Community Represented:

Themes: , , , , , , , , , ,

Setting: Jerusalem, West Bank

Character's Place in the Immigration Journey: In Home Country, Refugee

Book Creator(s) Connection to the Community Represented: Own Voices/Lived Experience

Click here for details about how we define our titles.

Engagement Projects & Resources:

Share your favorite resources for this book with info@imyourneighborbooks.org.