Yasmin Zaher

Yasmin Zaher is a Palestinian journalist and writer. Her debut novel, The Coin won the Dylan Thomas Prize in 2025.

Early life and education

Zaher is from Jerusalem. She has a Bachelor of Science in biomedical engineering from Yale University and a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing from The New School, where she was advised by Katie Kitamura.

Writing

Zaher was previously a journalist for Agence France-Presse and Haaretz, and has also been published in Al-Monitor.
Published July 2024 via Footnote Press and Catapult Books, Zaher's debut novel The Coin is narrated by a Palestinian woman living in New York. Central themes include fashion, luxury, and consumerism, which intensify in a trip to Paris where the protagonist participates in a Birkin bag reselling scheme, as well as dirt and cleanliness. The book has been translated into multiple languages.