55 pages • 1 hour read
Randa JarrarA Map of Home
Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2008A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
A Map of Home by Randa Jarrar follows the journey of Nidali, a girl of Palestinian, Greek, and Egyptian descent, as she navigates her childhood and adolescence across Kuwait, Egypt, and the United States. The novel explores her experiences with family conflict, violence, war, and her evolving identities. Sensitive topics in the book include domestic abuse, sexual assault, and racist slurs.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Randa Jarrar’s A Map of Home offers a compelling portrait of cultural identity through a humorous, poignant narrative. Readers praise Jarrar's authentic voice and vivid characters, though some feel the plot meanders at times. The novel successfully blends humor with insightful commentary on diaspora and displacement.
Who Should Read A Map of Home?
A reader who enjoys A Map of Home by Randa Jarrar appreciates coming-of-age stories rich with cultural diversity and humor. Fans of Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner or Jhumpa Lahiri’s The Namesake will find resonance in its exploration of immigrant experiences and identity formation across different landscapes.