Cave Zaba

Cave Zaba is a work of realistic fiction that explores the hidden human potential to deal with the unexpected-given that people have the self-confidence, courage, and tact to unleash that potential. The story revolves around a mother, Afra, and her child, Suhail, members of two notably unprotected classes, as well as their extended family. Despite the cultural and legal barriers that stand in their way in 1960s Saudi Arabia, these two people display a profound ability to do what is necessary for their family. Their loyalty and determination exist as virtues in themselves, and the tale serves as both entertainment and a glimpse into another culture in a different time. Opening in Jobna, a desert village some two hundred miles north-east of Riyadh, the story shifts to the capital city when Suhail is forced to move their on his own, at the age of twelve to continue school. As he grows up and his mother struggles to support the family, their true potentials are revealed.