Description: "Jiddo's garden is a wonder. In it grows so many amazing things--to see, smell, and taste. But helping him to tend the garden teaches this young girl about even more than fig trees. It gives her a chance to discover just who she is. Many years ago, like so many Palestinians, her family was forced to leave their homeland. But Jiddo shows her how, until they can return, tending a garden can connect them to home--and to each other"--
Brief description: Jenan A. Matari is an award-winning Palestinian American storyteller. Her work centers on narratives of resistance, resilience and culture, weaving the struggles of Indigenous peoples globally into her advocacy for Palestinian liberation. Her popular social media presence has earned her a large global following: You can find Jenan on Instagram @jenanmatari, TikTok @jenan.matari, or visit her website at www.jenanmatari.com. She lives in exile with her family on the ancestral lands of the Lenape people. This is her first book.
Review Quotes: "My friend. My friend! Jenan writes from a place deep within that we all share--a place where love is so abundant it can never stop growing. This story reminds us that when we nurture and tend to that love, no distance or challenge can ever diminish the strength of our hearts. It is a book I will cherish for the rest of my life, a powerful reflection of the beauty in our own stories and everything we hold dear. All I can say is, thank you. Thank you for your courage and authenticity. Thank you for the za'atar from your grandfather's garden that now grows in my own."--Diane Guerrero, Colombian American Actress, Activist and Author