The input many people put into this book is deeply appreciated. I would like to thank Helena Cobban, Kimberly MacVaugh, and the rest of the team at Just World Books for making this book a reality. A thank-you is due to Annie Robbins for her support of many of the promising writers. Yousef Aljamal, a contributor to this book, also helped with the logistics at the Center for Political and Development Studies in Gaza City and Sameeha Elwan did a great job reading texts. Two people have done this book the best favor: Sarah Ali, herself a contributor to the book and who was there from day one, suggested texts, read them, and worked with me and the writers to give the stories the form and shape they now have; and Diana Ghazzawi of Wordreams Editing and Design, whose sharp eye and editing skills polished the stories.