2009 Golden Inky Winner Randa Abdel-Fattah

How do you feel now that Where the Streets Had a Name has been voted the winner by Australian readers?
I'm thrilled. The way I see it, the Inkys are all about young adult readers taking ownership of their reading choices, voting for books they want to read. There can be no better validation of one's writing than knowing that the people you write for are commending your efforts. So this is the most treasured prize for me of all. 

How long had you been thinking about the story of Haayat and Samy before you began to write it?
My visit to my father’s birthplace, Palestine, in 2000 had a profound impact on me. I suddenly understood the tragedy of my family, specifically my grandmother’s, dispossession. I also saw children and young adults trying to get on with their life despite the occupation- attending weddings, gossipping with friends and neighbours, haggling at the shops, following favourite television sitcoms. My observations of the way the children coped stayed with me. What I found most disturbing was the restrictions on travel. It seemed a denial of such a fundamental human right. The idea of an adventure story started to form in my mind- the idea of a child trying to get from one part of the occupied territories to another, forbidden, part. It took some years before I started writing the story. All my activism in the meantime was, I suppose, part of the planning process. 

The ongoing war between Israel and Palestine is a complex situation. Were you concerned not to over-simplify? 
Deciding what to put in and what to leave out was a difficult task. The temptation to deal with all the human rights abuses, all the facets of suffering, all the political issues was overwhelming. The way I was able to avoid this was with the help of my wonderful editor with the first drafts and a realisation that Hayaat's story needed to drive the book, rather than my passion to raise awareness driving Hayaat's story.  Ultimately I realised that I wanted to write a simple story set in complicated circumstances, looking at the sacrifices best-friends make for each other, sibling rivalry, nagging parents, sparring in-laws, ambitious wedding plans, helpless adults, children who dream big and an occupation that impacts on the minutiae of ordinary life. 
 
Haayat and Samy are great kids in an impossible situation. There must be thousands of others like them. 
Watching interviews with kids affected by the occupation, waiting at checkpoints, commenting on their experiencesd in the immediate aftermath of the Gaza attacks etc, you realise that so many Palestinian children share an amazing resilience, frankness and faith in the future. Watching Palestinian films you also notice a distinct sense of humour. Yet whilst their optimism is inspiring, their exposure to so much suffering is frightening. So many suffer from PTSD, malnutrition etc.  

How do you think children cope with the tension and restrictions on everyday life?
Well even under the most impossible of situations, life goes on. Just existing is an act of resistance. That is the tragedy. They need to try and survive the malnutrition, the school closures, the abuse, the violence, the dysfunctional life. Based on all the NGO's outgoing reports, Palestinian children are not coping all that well with so many mentally and physically affected.  

What do you think is most misunderstood thing about the experience of young people in West Bank?
I think the most misunderstood thing about the whole situation is that it is a conflict that can be solved if 'Palestinians and Jews just learnt to get along'. That is something people tell me time and time again which shows a total lack of awareness of the situation, as though the refugees, the stolen land, the occupation, the Wall, the discimination, the illegal settlements, the stolen water etc are non-issues. With that ignorant mentality, young people are not even factored into people's understanding of life in the West Bank. An entire generation is ignored.

Did you writer this book to straighten out some misunderstandings? 
I sure did. I was hoping to raise people's awareness about the plight of young people living under such horrid circumstances.

Where the Streets Had a Name is your third novel. How do you think as writer you have changed?
The book required something different of me. I needed to write in unfamiliar settings and out of my Australian comfort zone. That meant a different approach in terms of research, discipline in what to put in and what to leave out, trusting my readers would be interested in a family living in a different country and culture. I think that has made for a more mature work.    

How will you celebrate your win of the Golden Inky?
I wasn't able to attend the awards ceremony as I've just started a new job. But I ended up staying at home to look after my daughter who suddenly came down with the chicken pox!  Go figure!
Now that she is over it my husband and I are going to give the children to my mum and go out for dinner and a movie this weekend (okay I'll admit it, the new Twilight movie- not a fan of the books but I like the movies).
I have to say that the best part of this award is the amazing support I've received from people in the Palestinian community who are ecstatic and, I would say, energised by the fact that Australian teenagers obviously do care about justice for Palestinians.