My choices this week were heavily influenced by the books I am reviewing in preparation to book talk them to 8th grade students. An english class project, they will read about the middle east conflict in literature as they begin to study it in social studies. These are some of the better titles I've come across.
A Little Piece of Ground by Elizabeth Laird.
Twelve year old Karim lives in Ramallah with his big brother, little sisters, and parents. Like many boys, he dreams of becoming a sports star - a soccer star, to be precise. But the unpredictable curfews imposed by Israel make getting outside to play difficult. For weeks at a time his family is confined to their apartment. During a brief outing to visit family to help with the olive harvest, he is confronted with the ever encroaching jewish settlements. While walking to the outermost olive grove he and his family are shot at by settlers who perceive the land as theirs and Karim's family as terrorists.
A gritty look at the every day life of Palestinians living under occupation, Karim and his brother's arguments and lives - video games, girls, friends - show us how like any american boy they are while at the same time reveal the terror, fear, anger, and frustration of living in a war zone.
Where the Streets Had a Name by Randa Abdel-Fattah.
Hayaat is a teenaged girl living in Bethlehem with her soon to be married teenaged sister, two young brothers, her grandmother, and her parents. Her family once owned a farm but were forced off the land when the Israelis built an access road for use by settlers. Unable to find work, they live off of her parents' savings. Her grandmother tells her of her beautiful home in Jerusalem and how, during the 1948 war, jewish soldiers forced them out at gun point and later confiscated the home for jewish refugees from the holocaust. When her grandmother falls ill and appears to be dying, Hayaat decides to get her the one thing she desires - some soil from her home in Jerusalem. But travel to Jerusalem is illegal. She and her friend Sami, orphaned by his father's imprisonment and mother's death - decide to make the dangerous trip.
Told with the same humor as Does My Head Look Big in This?, Abdel-Fattah nevertheless manages to convey all of the angst, anger, and daily tribulations of living under occupation.
The Enemy Has A Face by Gloria Miklowitz.
Three months after leaving Israel to live in California, Adam Hoffman disappears. The family is baffled and afraid. Assuming that Adam's disappearance has to do with the israeli palestinian conflict, they chase down clues. Dr. Hoffman is a scientist working on a satellite system that will better detect palestinian weapons caches. Adam was active in a group of students discussing the conflict, where his impassioned defense of Israel was seen as arrogant. An internet group of palestinians opines that they hope and trust that Adam is dead. His sister Netta undertakes her own investigation. She is befriended by a palestinian at school whom she assumes is complicit, but comes to realize is more like her in the experience of being new to America than other kids.
Adam's actual fate comes as a shock, and reveals the depth of prejudice involved in the conflict. A nice author's note and references throughout show that groups of teenagers are working to understand each other outside of the war zone as well as the difficulties of doing so given their personal experiences.
Interesting pics and a perspective that is often ignored. Nice work.
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