My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5) "He leaves the boy standing there and is on his way while a voice drones in his head: PRISON-it's a prison, prison, prison." Set in Palestine, Asad’s Secret by Najlaa Attaalah follows the life of Asad, the eldest of eight children living in a small home. With his father imprisoned, Asad takes on responsibilities far beyond his years, working at a printing press through the summer and stepping up as the man of the house. But this role weighs heavily on him. He feels trapped, resentful, and confused: why must he face life’s hardest sides? Being the eldest brings him no pride, only the burden of caring for his whole family, and he often feels suffocated by it all. It’s only when he meets Um Fawzi, a wise old woman, that he begins to find guidance and a way out of his heavy, brooding thoughts. The story focuses on everyday moments that dive deep into Asad’s inner world. We see him struggle to balance his duty to his family with his dream of continuin...
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