City of a Thousand Gates

"A stunning first novel...imbued with foreboding at every turn...Through her vibrant characters, Sacks paints a moving and powerful portrait of those who love the region passionately despite its many tensions and dangers." —Booklist (Starred Review)

"A beautifully written, brave, and incredibly compassionate novel. I couldn't put it down." —Etaf Rum

"Sacks deeply humanizes a conflict that dehumanizes on every level." —Nicole Krauss

Brave and bold, this gorgeously written novel introduces a large cast of characters from various backgrounds in a setting where violence is routine and where survival is defined by boundaries, walls, and checkpoints that force people to live and love within and across them.

Hamid, a college student, has entered Israeli territory illegally for work. Rushing past soldiers, he bumps into Vera, a German journalist...