Editors’ Pick
Designed to Feel by Peter Burchardt
Designed to Feelby Peter Burchardt — on emotions, evolution & the science of feeling
View on Amazon →
Cover of A Map of Home
Literary Fiction· Jordan

A Map of Home

by Randa Jarrar
Aggregate Editorial Score30/100
Published 2008English
Buy on Amazon →

About This Book

A Map of Home by Randa Jarrar is a landmark work of literary fiction, first published in 2008. A Map of Home is a semi-autobiographical novel that follows the life of Nidali, a young girl of Palestinian, Egyptian, and Greek heritage, as she navigates her adolescence across the Middle East and the United States. The novel is celebrated for its humorous and poignant exploration of identity, belonging, and the immigrant experience. Jarrar's vibrant storytelling and unique voice make this a significant contribution to contemporary Arab-American literature. Themes of identity, belonging, immigrant experience run through the work.

Book Details

AuthorRanda Jarrar
Published2008
Country of Origin🇯🇴 Jordan
LanguageEnglish
Category📖 Literary Fiction
ISBN9781590512722
Editorial Score30/100
About the Category

📖 Literary Fiction

Character-driven fiction that prioritises style, theme, and psychological depth.

Explore all Literary Fiction books →
Country of Origin

🇯🇴 Jordan

This book is part of Jordan's rich literary tradition.

Explore books from Jordan →

Editorial Assessment

Randa Jarrar published A Map of Home in 2008, and it has since become one of the more widely recognised works of literary fiction from Jordan. The book's treatment of identity, belonging, immigrant experience, family accounts for much of its enduring reputation. With an editorial score of 30/100 drawn from 1 independent sources, the book occupies a well-documented position in the critical literature. Its recognition spans international prizes, "best of" lists, and academic surveys. What distinguishes A Map of Home is how it handles its central concerns — identity, belonging, immigrant experience, family — without reducing them to neat conclusions. The book invites close reading and holds up well to it. A Map of Home reflects Randa Jarrar's place in a wider literary tradition. The book's concerns resonate with Jordan's broader cultural preoccupations, even as they reach beyond any single national context.
About this assessment: Editorial scores are aggregated from 1 independent sources including major literary prizes, critical surveys, and leading publications. Our editorial team reviews and contextualises this data. Rankings reflect critical consensus, not personal opinion or popularity metrics. Learn about our methodology.

Awards & Recognition

Guardian 100 Best Novels
notable · global
20080
✍️
About the Author
Randa Jarrar
Jordan
View Author →

Randa Jarrar is a Jordan author whose work in literary fiction has earned recognition from readers and critics alike.

Happy Children
The Parenting Companion
Happy Children
What Evolution Actually Built Your Child’s Emotions For
Your child’s emotions are not the problem. They are the operating system.
Get It on Amazon →Paperback & Kindle

What to Read Next

Cover of Midnight's Children
literary-fiction

Midnight's Children

Salman Rushdie· 1981
★Nobel Prize in Literature★Booker Prize
Editorial Score100/100
Cover of The God of Small Things
literary-fiction

The God of Small Things

Arundhati Roy· 1997
★Nobel Prize in Literature★Booker Prize
Editorial Score100/100
Cover of The Remains of the Day
literary-fiction

The Remains of the Day

Kazuo Ishiguro· 1989
★Nobel Prize in Literature★Booker Prize
Editorial Score100/100
Cover of The White Tiger
literary-fiction

The White Tiger

Aravind Adiga· 2008
★Nobel Prize in Literature★Booker Prize
Editorial Score100/100
Cover of The Road
literary-fiction

The Road

Cormac McCarthy· 2007
★Pulitzer Prize★Hugo Award
Editorial Score100/100
Cover of Wolf Hall
historical-fiction

Wolf Hall

Hilary Mantel· 2009
★Booker Prize★Costa Book Award
Editorial Score100/100

Frequently Asked Questions

What is A Map of Home about?

A Map of Home is a semi-autobiographical novel that follows the life of Nidali, a young girl of Palestinian, Egyptian, and Greek heritage, as she navigates her adolescence across the Middle East and the United States. The novel is celebrated for its humorous and poignant exploration of identity, belonging, and the immigrant experience. Jarrar's vibrant storytelling and unique voice make this a significant contribution to contemporary Arab-American literature.

Who wrote A Map of Home?

A Map of Home was written by Randa Jarrar, from Jordan. First published in 2008.

What awards has A Map of Home won?

A Map of Home has received the following recognition: notable critical recognition.

Is A Map of Home worth reading?

A Map of Home is a well-regarded book with an aggregate editorial score of 30/100 on 50 Best Books. It is particularly recommended for readers interested in identity, belonging, immigrant experience.

Where can I buy A Map of Home?

You can buy A Map of Home on Amazon. Click the Buy on Amazon button above to find the best edition.

What category is A Map of Home?

A Map of Home is classified as Literary Fiction. Character-driven fiction that prioritises style, theme, and psychological depth.

What country is A Map of Home from?

A Map of Home originates from Jordan's literary tradition. Explore more books from Jordan on our country page.

Popular on 50 Best Books

Best Science Fiction Books of All TimeScience FictionBooker Prize Winners — Complete List & GuideLiterary PrizesNobel Prize in Literature — Every Winner Since 1901Literary PrizesClassic Literature Reading List — 50 Essential BooksReading GuidesBest Books for Beginners — 20 Easy Reads for New BookloversReading Guides

Explore More

📖More Literary FictionBrowse all Literary Fiction books🇯🇴Books from Jordan🇯🇴 Jordan literature📅2000s BooksPublished in the 2000s🏆Top 50 RankingsThe greatest books of all time