The Heart Behind The Rib

The occupiers invade the city of Mustafa, making him and his sister worshippers. Mustafa flees to Sfax and leaves his sister behind. After several years, the occupiers also invade Sfax. Will Mustafa be able to recover his sister and survive?

“The Heart Behind the Rib” by Maria Daadouch, The Winner of the Sheikh Khalifa Educational Award for Children’s Authorship 2020, 13th session.

The occupiers invade the island of Djerba where Mustafa lived and took him and his sister as hostages. Mustafa flees to Sfax and leaves his sister behind. After several years, the red flags of the occupiers appeared on the coast of Sfax. Will Mustafa allow them to hostage him again? Will he ever be able to save his sister? “The Heart Behind the Rib” talks about nostalgia, loss, and homesickness.