{"id":308,"date":"2020-06-29T00:06:41","date_gmt":"2020-06-29T00:06:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/paulzarou.com\/wordpress\/?page_id=308"},"modified":"2026-03-21T20:08:23","modified_gmt":"2026-03-21T20:08:23","slug":"arabboydelivered","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/paulzarou.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/arabboydelivered\/","title":{"rendered":"ARAB AMERICAN BLUES"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A Novel: April 7, 2026 <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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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\u2019s 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\u2014from 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\u2019s 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\u2019s 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.<\/strong><\/p>\n

A story that reflects the past but is striking for how contemporary it is.<\/strong><\/p>\n

An excerpt from ARAB BOY BLUES was published in the 2016 summer edition of the literary journal Mizna \u2013 www.mizna.org.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0Praise for ARAB AMERICAN BLUES<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/div>\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A Novel: April 7, 2026 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…<\/p>\n

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