An Eritrean man flees conflict in his country, landing in a refuge camp in Ethiopia, then eventually in Israel. The story follows his efforts to find himself and find his way in each place, all while fearing he will be sent back to Eritrea. This is an excellent exploration of identity and the ultimate narrowing labels create, limiting who one is permitted to be. The story is told with varying timelines side by side, with the author employing a clever device so it’s always clear which timeline we’re in, even while the stories mirror one another. I thought this was terrific.

Black Foam was a fascinating read on many fronts. As well as being a well-written story, it was also interesting to learn about the migration of African Jews to Israel, as it was something I had never heard about before. The book covers several themes, but in particular it highlights the search for 'home' and the difficult experience faced by migrants, both in respect to the authorities and the extant inhabitants of their new cities, who are not always welcoming. A short but thought-provoking piece, Black Foam is definitely well worth a read. It gets four stars from me.