Raised amongst the scent of zaatar and wild sumac and the hum of her family’s grocery store in Detroit, Patricia Mousa invites you into a luminous memoir of first- generation life - where family stories of Palestine meet America’s promise of the early 50’s. In vivid, tender vignettes, she honors resilient parents and the ongoing arrival of extended family from Ramallah, Palestine. From basement and pickling parties and mezzeh-laden tables to the grit of forging a new life in America, Mousa captures the humor, heartbreak, and everyday grace that shaped her first - generation journey. If you love intimate, food rich, multi-generational stories that celebrate belonging, this is your next unforgettable read - an uplifting, beautifully told testament to heritage, perseverance, and love.

The Author Patricia J. Mousa and picking grape leaves with her mother Jannette S. Mousa