Arab American Blues

A thoughtful and wonderfully written coming-of-age story set during one of the most tumultuous and divisive periods in US history.

A lyrical coming-of-age novel set against the political upheaval and cultural reckoning of 1960s America, this powerful debut explores immigrant identity, race, love, and awakening during one of the most divisive eras in US history. Michael Haddad, the teenage son of Palestinian immigrants, grows up in his family’s working-class New York City grocery store, delivering food through a changing neighborhood in 1967. As he enters the private worlds of his customers, Michael bears witness to the fractures and solidarities of urban America—from violent encounters with racist bullies to moments of unexpected compassion. He mourns alongside a grieving mother whose son was killed in the Vietnam War, and finds community with the first Black family to move onto the block. Michael’s emotional and sexual awakening unfolds through a relationship with a radical college activist, who introduces him to love, protest, and political consciousness, challenging him to test America’s ideals against its realities. His journey is shaped by seismic national events, including the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy, which mirror his own inner turmoil. As racism, social unrest, and generational expectations collide, Michael must confront a sudden personal tragedy and reckon with what it means to be a dutiful son, an Arab American, and an individual seeking freedom. Ultimately, he must face his fears, embrace his heritage, and claim his place in a rapidly changing nation.