Penguin Random House has withdrawn a book about Palestine for young readers by Palestinian American authors Alana Hadid and Jenan Matari ahead of its scheduled release, following disagreements over how the manuscript represented Palestinian history. The authors objected to changes made by the publisher, arguing that the edits sanitized their account of Palestinian history and misrepresented their views.
The Book Has Been in the Works Since 2024
In November 2024, Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House, signed a deal with Palestinian American co-authors Alana Hadid, a philanthropist and activist, and Jenan Matari, an author and communications strategist.
The book was originally scheduled for release in September 2026 to introduce young readers to the history of Palestine through historical context and the authors’ own family experiences.
What the Book Was About
The manuscript explored Palestinian history, Israeli occupation, Palestinian resistance, and the diaspora, weaving these topics together with the authors’ family stories of displacement. It also examined the forced exile of Palestinian civilians and the spread of the Palestinian diaspora around the world.
Beyond recounting historical events, the book focused on how Palestinian stories have long been erased or overlooked. Its subject matter included the rise of Zionism, the Nakba (Catastrophe of 1948), the relationship between the United States and Israel, and what everyday life feels like under military occupation.
Why the Authors Decided to Withdraw the Book
The disagreement emerged over editorial changes made by Random House, which the authors said were introduced after they believed the manuscript had been finalized. Hadid and Matari objected to the revisions, arguing that they sanitized their history and misrepresented their perspectives.
“They continued to try to sanitize our history because they didn’t want to make certain communities uncomfortable. But decolonial history is supposed to make you uncomfortable,” Matari said.
“I believe it was a revolutionary book, which is why it was under so much scrutiny.”
A Random House spokesperson said that the editorial process “followed our standard bookmaking procedures” and said the publisher ultimately supported the authors’ decision to withdraw the book.
The Book Will Now Be Published Through Interlink
Unable to reach an agreement with the publisher over the manuscript’s content, Hadid and Matari chose to walk away from their original deal. Instead, the book will be released through Interlink Books, a Palestinian-owned US publisher.
With the book now moving to Interlink Books, the disagreement raises broader questions about the limits placed on how political histories are told, whose perspectives make it to print, and what happens when authors refuse to compromise on their stories.
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