Gripping memoir and poetry from Palestinian writer Nada Shawa

In this blend of memoir and poetry, Nada Shawa writes in solidarity with her home country, recalling a happy early childhood spent in Gaza. 

Three prose pieces, written between 2009 and 2019, are full of honesty, defiance and humour. Their poignancy is heightened by our knowledge of the desperate situation in Palestine today, which inspired her poems on Gaza, mostly written this year.  

Nada recounts her experiences of travelling with a wheelchair in and out of a country in military occupation and the unique hardship this brings.
Her voice is powerful, peaceful yet fierce. Her poetry deals with grief, displacement and war, but also the restorative power of nature and art. 

Nada’s voice and story are a bridge between Scotland, her home since childhood, and Gaza, where she comes from a family lineage of truthseekers dedicated to the rights and protection of the Palestinian people. Her words are an almighty call to justice, a heart’s keepsake and a lovesong to family, culture and home.—Karine Polwart

Nada Shawa’s writing is delicate, vivid and full of hope despite the grave personal losses which she laments.—Raja Shehadeh

Grief and sorrow, the joy of good company, family and friendship, and through it all, music, of all kinds, give this short book a remarkable buoyancy and assurance.—Alan Riach, The National

A complex, deeply personal story which paints a distinct picture of a resilient and caring author and her family.—Marianne Tambini, Snack Magazine