A review by alyssayoho
The Words of My Father: Love and Pain in Palestine by Yousef Bashir

4.0

A great ode to a boy's relationship with his father and his homeland. Bashir wanted to allow his father to continue to speak through him and it was done beautifully. I found myself attached to both him and his family and was able to learn more about Israel-Palestine conflict in the process. The only reason I did not give it 5 stars is because some portions felt a little dragged out, while others were rushed through. For example, Bashir continuously referred to how much he wanted to get to the U.S. and thoroughly detailed his attempts to convince his dad, but when he finally arrives, it felt like he just spent a couple pages describing his time there.

All in all, it is a beautiful story about compassion, kindness, and optimism in the face of ongoing suffering. I am hoping Bashir continues his story, as I will be sure to read the next one.