Set against the backdrop of the Israel-Gaza war, Randa Abdel-Fattah's novel Discipline seems incredibly timely.

But Abdel-Fattah — a lawyer, academic and human rights activist who has published 12 books for children and young adults — began the novel in 2021 in the wake of an earlier crisis in the region.

That conflict, which saw Israel launch an 11-day military offensive in Gaza in response to Palestinian protests, unfolded during the holy month of Ramadan.

"That was very significant because bombs [were] falling as people were trying to break their fast," Abdel-Fattah tells ABC Radio National's The Book Show .

"People [were] having to deal with the trauma of the air strikes while they were hungry and not being able to find food at the end of the day."

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