The Return

by Hisham Matar, Sonia Levitin
The Return cover
Good Books rating 4.25
Historical Fiction
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Paperback • £10.99
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Technical
  • ID: 684
  • Added: 2025-09-19
  • Updated: 2025-12-30
  • ISBN: 9780812994834
  • Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
  • Published: 1987-01-01
  • Formats: 24
  • Reviews: 4

The Return follows the harrowing journey of Desta and her Falasha family as they flee Ethiopia, where they face severe discrimination as Jews. Their dangerous trek to Israel is filled with uncertainty and peril, but also hope for a better future. The story highlights the struggles and resilience of a family seeking freedom and a sense of belonging in a land they consider their ancestral home. /n/n The narrative delves into the cultural and historical context of the Falasha community, providing a poignant exploration of identity, displacement, and the enduring human spirit. The book offers a compelling blend of personal drama and broader historical significance, making it a powerful read for those interested in human rights and migration stories.

Reviews
Goodreads · 2025-12-20
compelling 4.75

The book is vivid and compelling, with sensitively written characters and a tour de force narrative. It is a powerful and emotionally charged story.

The reviewer described the book as vivid and compelling, with sensitively written characters that bring the story to life. They praised the narrative as a tour de force, highlighting its emotional depth and powerful storytelling. The reviewer found the book to be a moving and impactful read, with a strong emotional resonance that stays with the reader long after finishing the book. The story's vivid descriptions and well-developed characters make it a standout in historical fiction, offering a rich and immersive reading experience.

Quick quotes

    Vivid and compelling...Levitin's tour de force is sensitively written.

    A powerful and emotionally charged story.

    The book is a moving and impactful read.

She's Probably at the Library · 2023-01-29
thought-provoking 3.75

Life is difficult, but there is still joy to be found. The novel explores the complexities of leaving one's home and the forbidden nature of such a journey.

The reviewer from She's Probably at the Library notes that life in the novel is depicted as difficult, yet there is still joy to be found. They appreciate the exploration of the complexities involved in leaving one's home, especially when it is forbidden. The novel is seen as a poignant reflection on the human experience, highlighting the struggles and triumphs of those seeking a better life. The reviewer finds the story both moving and thought-provoking, offering a unique perspective on the immigrant experience.

Quick quotes

    Life is difficult, but there's still joy to be found.

    Rumors are swirling that there are ways to leave, though leaving Ethiopia is forbidden for the time being.

    The novel is a poignant reflection on the human experience.

The Markaz · 2017-08-03
Thought-provoking 4.00

The book is both political and apolitical, condemning despotic regimes while focusing on personal experiences and emotions.

The Markaz's review of 'The Return' highlights its dual nature as both a political and apolitical work. The reviewer appreciates how the book condemns despotic regimes in Libya and Egypt, while also focusing on the deeply personal experiences and emotions of the author. This duality makes the book a powerful exploration of both the political and personal dimensions of exile and loss. The reviewer finds the book to be a poignant and thought-provoking read that offers valuable insights into the complexities of identity and belonging.

Quick quotes

    The book is at once very political as it condemns despotic regimes in Libya and Egypt for example, but also apolitical in that it is entirely personal.

    The Return is an epic story of war and identity, of generations of the Matar family and their sacrifices for a land they love.

    It's shorter both as a book and as a meditation on the nature of memory and the passage of time.

Harvard Review · 2017-06-15
profound 4.50

The book is a first-person elegy for home and father, examining the past and present of an embattled region with controlled emotion. It offers a profound reflection on identity and belonging.

Hisham Matar's 'The Return' is a deeply moving memoir that explores the author's journey to understand his father's fate and his own identity. The book is a first-person elegy for home and father, examining the past and present of an embattled region with controlled emotion. Matar's writing is both personal and political, offering a profound reflection on identity, belonging, and the impact of political upheaval on individual lives. The book's strength lies in its ability to blend personal narrative with broader historical and political themes, making it a compelling and thought-provoking read.

Quick quotes

    A first-person elegy for home and father that examines with controlled emotion the past and present of an embattled region.

    The book is at once very political as it condemns despotic regimes in Libya and Egypt, but also apolitical in that it is entirely personal.

    It is an exquisite meditation on how history and politics can bear down on an individual life.

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