Scope and ContentSusan Abulhawa is a Palestinian-American writer, scientist, and activist. Born in 1970 in Kuwait to Palestinian parents displaced by the 1967 war, she was raised in the United States. She studied biology at Pfeiffer University and earned a master’s degree in biomedical science with a focus on neuroscience from the University of South Carolina. Before turning to literature full-time, she worked as a pharmaceutical researcher. Her acclaimed debut novel, Mornings in Jenin (2010), traces a Palestinian family’s journey through exile and survival; her second, The Blue Between Sky and Water (2015), deepens her exploration of identity and resistance under occupation. In 2024, Abulhawa traveled twice to Gaza between February and May, witnessing firsthand the scale of Israel’s assault. Drawing on her scientific training, she conducted an independent statistical study estimating Palestinian deaths between 194,768 and 511,824—at least five times higher than the official toll of 36,096 at the time. Known for her unflinching political voice, Abulhawa’s work stands as a powerful testament to Palestinian life, loss, and resilience.