However, we learn that in his time outside of Palestine, he became a member of the resistance movement and has returned to complete a mission to blow up the Egged buses that transport Palestinian workers from the West Bank to Israel.

Upon his arrival in Nablus, he meets with his cousin Adil, who he believes is accepting of Israel's occupation of the West Bank.

Usama overhears and partakes in some of these discussions and starts to be hopeful that this younger generation will bring freedom to Palestine.

However, IDF soldiers arrest Basil a few days later for chanting political slogans in response to Israel's demolition of a family home in Nablus.

Khalifeh also acknowledges the frustration Palestinians have with “just words.” Adil’s father is an older bedridden man who once belonged to the land-owning class and now entertains international journalists to speak on the injustices of the occupation.

Male characters with family responsibilities like Adil, Zuhdi, and Abu Saber define manhood in terms of their ability to provide.

He is congratulated on his first night in jail with the Arabic saying “السجن للرجال”, that translates “Prison is for men.” His inmates even dub him Abu al Izz or “father of glory” for his resistance.

Fadia Faqir, writing for Third World Quarterly, has praised the novel for its realistic portrayal of life in the West Bank which evoke emotion in the reader.

Faqir believes that Khalifeh is achieves this by her inclusion of details and events like Israel's demolition of Palestinian homes and the community's reaction to it.

[9] In an article for Modern Language Quarterly, Bashir Abu Manneh also praises Khalifeh for being critical of the politics of the Palestinian struggle and argues that her novel is aiming towards emancipation via working-class solidarity and truth.