Ibtisam is a Palestinian-American author and poet whose work centers on healing social injustices, especially in the lives of young people. Set in Ramallah during the aftermath of the 1967 Six-Day War, her memoir captures what it is like to be a child whose world is shattered by war. With simplicity, clarity, and compassion, Barakat’s love for letters and language allows her to tell a painful story of her experiences as a young child trying to piece together a world that makes sense. We have much to learn from her story, and even more from her reflections at this moment.
