Under the Nakba Tree: Fragments of a Palestinian Family in Canada

Told in short chapters, Under the Nakba Tree is the story of a young boy growing up in Alberta after his family fled Palestine. This memoir illustrates the challenges immigrants face, even in systems claiming to be welcoming. It shows how identity-related trauma can surface at unexpected times. The writing is accessible and any potentially unfamiliar words are explained in the main text (e.g., terms related to Islam). Given the intergenerational and experiential focus, this book could be used either in English or social studies to encourage learners to write about their own experiences, or to provide a family-focused look at Palestinian history. It also gives an immigrant’s perspective on the treatment of Indigenous peoples in Canada and relationships to land and place.

Supplementary Resources: Athabasca University Press is an open access publisher. An open access version of this resource can be found here.