Review of Discipline by Randa Abdel-Fattah

Set against the backdrop of the Gaza genocide, this is a bold and importantly timely debut exploring silence and complicity. We follow Hannah, a journalist and a mother, as she tries to balance faith and her desire to be respected in the newsroom. We also have the character of Ashraf, a failing and fumbling academic. Both are drawn into the spotlight when a teenage student is arrested for protesting a university’s ties to an Israeli arms manufacturer.

I found this book interesting in concept but must admit that, as a novel, it didn’t quite capture my attention in the way I had hoped and I therefore found it hard to engage with. Personally, I might be more inclined to seek out memoir or non-fiction around this topic with the aim of revisiting the book again someday to see if my view still stands.

Published on 15.10.2026 by Oneworld Publications

Reviewed by Abi