Sandy Tolan

While the content of this young readers' edition is appropriate for middle grade readers in terms of violence, etc, it does need to be said that unless a middle grade reader is REALLY interested in the topic, they will get bogged down in the 80 pages of basically just historical details in the first half of the book.

With that out of the way, this is a fantastic book for YA and adult readers to understand how Israel and Palestine have arrived the situation we are in today. The explanations are clear and nuanced, the framework is really compelling, and I think both of the central characters would feel they were represented fairly. Even though they were often at odds, I rooted for both of them.… (mer)

As much a biography of nations as two families, while still as focused on character and individuals as on history, this is a careful and fascinating work. Built from massive amounts of research and interviews, the work still manages to read like a story and quickly becomes impossible to put down even as it progresses with ever more nuance.

I'm glad to have finally gotten around to reading it, and feel like I've got a far better handle on the intricacies surrounding this part of the Middle East.

Recommended.… (mer)

Throughout the book much is made of the "dialog" and "friendship" of the protagonists, Dalia and Bashir. This was completely lost on me. It is Dalia who consistently opens her heart and actively seeks an understanding. She looks beyond herself to the situation of the Arabs that once inhabited the land. She tries to envision a solution. Bashir does none of these things. He does not once open his heart nor seek understanding, he simply goes through the motions of basic Arab hospitality. He does not look beyond himself, not once, to see the plight of the Jewish people. He never tries to envision a solution, instead fixating on one single scenario and blinding himself to anything beyond.

The author tried really hard to be fair, and in that I think he does a good job.… (mer)