crystal_reading's review against another edition
4.0
This is an easy to read memoir of the 6 Days War and the aftermath from a Palestinian girl's perspective.
It is great because since it is a child's view, she includes the interesting details like using dough to glue kite sticks together.
It is great because since it is a child's view, she includes the interesting details like using dough to glue kite sticks together.
carstensena's review
4.0
I was completely entranced by this beautifully written memoir, and think it should be in every school library and believe it would appeal equally to younger and high school readers.
chadstep's review
2.0
Slow going, and not as lyrical as I thought it would be (from the title), but as a first-person account as a child learning about the Israeli occupation, it did a decent job.
buffy87's review against another edition
3.0
There were some really beautiful lines of poetry written throughout. I enjoyed the language in this one. Sometimes fell flat but on the whole, it was different and better than the quality of language in YA novels I've been reading so far.
In terms of the memoir, I feel conflicted. As someone very well versed in Palestinian history and specifically the occupation and colonization of Palestine, I felt like this did a decent job of bringing those issues and that history forward. It's not too bold yet the truth is still delivered. The part that I'm conflicted about was the presence of tension. While ita written beautifully it was missing that driving force. When something tense happens, it's merely glazed over. I wanted some of those moments explored. That's why I'm conflicted because I realize that I want to sensationalize her struggle. And part of me doesn't. The thing that drives this memoir forward is the beauty of her language, and the memories. Despite being set in a tumultuous period, I guess it doesn't need that high drama.
Anyways, I'm not sure how I feel.
Recommended for anyone who wants to learn more about the Palestine and Israel conflict, anyone who wants the account of a refugee, or someone who wants to read a memoir.
In terms of the memoir, I feel conflicted. As someone very well versed in Palestinian history and specifically the occupation and colonization of Palestine, I felt like this did a decent job of bringing those issues and that history forward. It's not too bold yet the truth is still delivered. The part that I'm conflicted about was the presence of tension. While ita written beautifully it was missing that driving force. When something tense happens, it's merely glazed over. I wanted some of those moments explored. That's why I'm conflicted because I realize that I want to sensationalize her struggle. And part of me doesn't. The thing that drives this memoir forward is the beauty of her language, and the memories. Despite being set in a tumultuous period, I guess it doesn't need that high drama.
Anyways, I'm not sure how I feel.
Recommended for anyone who wants to learn more about the Palestine and Israel conflict, anyone who wants the account of a refugee, or someone who wants to read a memoir.
barbn's review against another edition
2.0
I appreciated hearing the author’s experience and story. There was beautiful language and heartbreaking scenes of living as a refugee.
I feel cold-hearted for saying the story just didn’t resonate with me.
I feel cold-hearted for saying the story just didn’t resonate with me.
laurahorn's review
4.0
I read this for my multicultural lit class and liked the insight it provided into the Palestine/Israeli conflict. It's focus is the 1967 war, but there are a lot of things that still happen today. I LOVED how Ibtisam talked about how language and writing were her "escape" - she talks about the letter A as if it was a friend because learning the alphabet opened a whole new world.
abigailbat's review
3.0
This beautifully written memoir gives us a glimpse into the childhood of Ibtisam Barakat, a Palestinian refugee in Israel. Although Ibtisam grew up in a country ravaged by war, not all of her memories are unhappy ones. She held on to a strong sense of home and family and her love for writing helped her deal with some of the scary things that happened to her. Although a lot of things about her childhood were very different from an American child's, many things were the same. I think this book is a great starting point for introducing the Israel-Palestine conflict and for showing kids that they can have something in common with kids halfway around the world.
Readalike suggestions: Habibi by Naomi Shihab Nye for another (fictional) look at Israel/Palestine. For older readers, When I Was Puerto Rican by Esmerelda Santiago for another memoir of growing up in a different country
Readalike suggestions: Habibi by Naomi Shihab Nye for another (fictional) look at Israel/Palestine. For older readers, When I Was Puerto Rican by Esmerelda Santiago for another memoir of growing up in a different country