A Day in the Life of Abed Salama

When five-year-old Milad Salama’s 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 roadblocks—both literal and systemic—as 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 others—Israeli and Palestinian—Nathan 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.