In this current political climate, being a Palestinian is a hazard. However, there are common grounds where East meets West.The Hookah Girlis a semi-autobiographical graphic novel of a childhood as a Christian Palestinian in America. Told in short stories and with narrative ranging from growing up in a refugee family to how to roll waraq (stuffed grape leaves), this book is an account of living in two seemingly different cultures that actually aren't very different at all.

Marguerite Dabaieis a freelance illustrator and has worked with such organizations asSchool Library Journal,Mizna, and Just World Books, among others.The Hookah Girl and Other True Storiesis her first major comic, and it was awarded two grants. She lives in New York City with her husband, Chris.