Oranges: A Graphic Memoir of Family, Hope, and Palestine

A heartfelt graphic memoir that peels back layers of personal history, trauma, and resilience through generations of Palestinian diaspora

In this poignant narrative, acclaimed graphic designer Ahmad Qatato explores three generations of family history: his grandparents who were uprooted from their Palestinian homeland and forced to live as refugees; his parents who grew up influenced by Western media and sought to transcend a refugee mentality; and Ahmad and his friends, the third generation scattered across different countries, striving to reconnect with their heritage and foster their own identities amidst the heightened conflict between Israel and Hamas in October 2023.

Growing up, Ahmad would hear stories of his grandfather's cherished orange trees in Palestine, evoking a sense of nostalgia and loss for a mythical place of a past that can never be revisited. As Ahmad got older, these childhood tales became colored with new meaning and the fruit came to represent both his family's protected unity and the segmented lives they have been forced to live. Stunningly illustrated, Oranges is a powerful exploration of identity, memory, and the enduring bonds of family.