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Chris Cleave’s debut novel Incendiary—a fictional narrative of a terrorist bombing in London—appeared in bookstores the same day a series of bombings of London’s public transportation system claimed more than 50 lives. A review in The Washington Post called the book “A mesmerizing tour de force: ragged, breathless, full of raw emotion, the blackest of humor and relentless action.” In Little Bee, Cleave tells the story of a Nigerian orphan named Little Bee and an English couple whose lives become inescapably intertwined. Unflinching and brutal, the book examines the lack of compassion in the world of refugees.

Born to Palestinian refugees of the Six-Day War of 1967, Susan Abulhawa faced the disintegration of her family, the loss of their property, and lived in countries all over the world before finally settling in America. An outspoken advocate for Palestinians, she is also the founder of Playgrounds for Palestine, a non-governmental organization that builds playgrounds for children living in occupied areas and refugee camps. Originally published as The Scar of David, Abulhawa’s debut novel, Mornings in Jenin, is a fictionalized account of a Palestinian family forced into the Jenin refugee camp after the formation of Israel in 1948. Profoundly moving, the novel highlights the universal desire of all people for a homeland and brings new light to the lasting conflict in the Middle East.