This book is the winner of numerous awards. It was recognised by the Middle East Book Award. It was recognised by the Parents' Choice Award. It also was recognised in the Special Subjects category by the Booksellers' Choice Award. It was recognised by the Tayshas Reading. Also it was recognised by the National Book Award. It was recognised in the YA category by the Nautilus Book Award.

This book is aimed at children in secondary school.

There are 142 pages in this book. This book was published 2002 by HarperCollins Publishers Inc .

Naomi Shihab Nye is a poet and anthologist and the acclaimed author of Habibi: A Novel and Sitti's Secrets, a picture book, which was based on her own experiences visiting her beloved Sitti in Palestine. Her book 19 Varieties of Gazelle: Poems of the Middle East was a finalist for the National Book Award. She has taught writing and worked in schools all over the world, including in Muscat, Oman. She lives in San Antonio, Texas.