Arab American Heritage Month 2024 | A Reading List

In recognition of Arab American Heritage Month, formally established by the Biden administration in April 2021, this reading list celebrates the varied cultures, achievements, and contributions of Arab American people. Through poetry, cooking, short stories, memoirs, and more, the following books reveal many facets of Arab American communities, histories, and experiences. These titles, and those selected from previous years, are available as a downloadable spreadsheet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In recognition of Arab American Heritage Month, formally established by the Biden administration in April 2021, this reading list celebrates the varied cultures, achievements, and contributions of Arab American people. Through poetry, cooking, short stories, memoirs, and more, the following books reveal many facets of Arab American communities, histories, and experiences. These titles, and those selected from previous years, are available as a downloadable spreadsheet 


FICTION

Abdel Gawad, Aisha. Between Two Moons. Doubleday. Jun. 2023. 336p. ISBN 9780385548618. Fiction/Muslim

Abu-Jaber, Diana. Fencing with the King. W. W. Norton & Company. Mar. 2022. 320p. ISBN 9780393867718. Cultural Heritage

Alameddine, Rabih. The Wrong End of the Telescope. Grove Press. Sept. 2021. 368p. ISBN 9780802157805. Literary

Cypher, Sarah. The Skin and Its Girl. Ballantine Books. Apr. 2023. 352p. ISBN 9780593499535. Literary

Joukhadar, Zeyn. The Thirty Names of Night. Washington Square Press. Jul. 2021. 320p. ISBN 9781982121525. Coming of Age

Lalami, Laila. The Other Americans. Pantheon. Mar. 2019. 320p. ISBN 9781524747145. Literary

Rum, Etaf. A Woman Is No Man. Harper. Mar. 2019. 352p. ISBN 9780062699763. Cultural Heritage

Zarou, Paul Aziz. Arab Boy Delivered. Cune Press . Mar. 2022. 240p. ISBN 9781951082390. Cultural Heritage

Zeineddine, Ghassan. Dearborn. Tin House Books. Sept. 2023. 240p. ISBN 9781959030294. Short Stories (single author)

Zgheib, Yara. No Land to Light On. Atria Books. Jan. 2022. 304p. ISBN 9781982187422. Family Life

NONFICTION

Adayfi, Mansoor. Don't Forget Us Here. Hachette Books. Aug. 2021. 384p. ISBN 9780306923869. Biography & Autobiography/Memoirs

Ali, Wajahat. Go Back to Where You Came From. W. W. Norton & Company. Jan. 2022. 272p. ISBN 9780393867978. Biography & Autobiography/Memoirs

Almontaser, Threa. The Wild Fox of Yemen. Graywolf Press. Apr. 2021. 96p. ISBN 9781644450505. Poetry/American

Assil, Reem. Arabiyya. Ten Speed Press. Apr. 2022. 304p. ISBN 9781984859075. Cooking/Regional & Cultural/Middle Eastern

Charara, Hayan. These Trees, Those Leaves, This Flower, That Fruit. Milkweed Editions. Apr. 2022. 112p. ISBN 9781571315410. Poetry/Middle Eastern

Geha, Joseph. Kitchen Arabic. University of Georgia Press. Mar. 2023. 192p. ISBN 9780820364001. Biography & Autobiography/Memoirs

H, Lamya. Hijab Butch Blues. The Dial Press. Feb. 2023. 304p. ISBN 9780593448762. Biography & Autobiography/Memoirs

Jarrar, Randa. Love Is an Ex-Country. Catapult. Feb. 2021. 240p. ISBN 9781948226585. Biography & Autobiography/LGBTQ+

Salman, Ayser. The Wrong End of the Table. Skyhorse. Mar. 2019. 288p. ISBN 9781510742079. Humor/Form/Essays

Zeineddine, Ghassan. Hadha Baladuna. Wayne State University Press. Jun. 2022. 248p. ISBN 9780814349250. Biography & Autobiography/Memoirs

Comment Policy:
  • Be respectful, and do not attack the author, people mentioned in the article, or other commenters. Take on the idea, not the messenger.
  • Don't use obscene, profane, or vulgar language.
  • Stay on point. Comments that stray from the topic at hand may be deleted.
  • Comments may be republished in print, online, or other forms of media.
  • If you see something objectionable, please let us know. Once a comment has been flagged, a staff member will investigate.


RELATED 

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?