When five-year-old Milad Salamas school bus crashes on the outskirts of Jerusalem, Abed Salama begins a desperate search for his five-year-old son, Milad. What follows is a harrowing journey through roadblocksboth literal and systemicas Abed confronts the harsh realities of life under occupation.

Trapped behind the separation wall and burdened by restricted movement, Abed’s personal tragedy unfolds amid a deeply divided landscape. Through his story and those of othersIsraeli and PalestinianNathan Thrall paints a powerful portrait of a society shaped by inequality, grief, and the enduring human drive to hold onto hope.

Winner of the 2024 Pulitzer Prize for General Non Fiction.