A Little Piece of Ground by Elizabeth Laird

Later, I lived in Beirut with my husband and son during the civil war there, and became aware for the first time of the tragedy of the Palestinian refugees. I first visited Israel in 1968, and enjoyed a warm welcome from many Israeli friends.

But their secret den becomes a terrifying death-trap when the soldiers with guns return.Ī Little Piece of Ground is an exciting story that brings to life the experiences of an ordinary boy living through one of the most difficult and tragic conflicts in our world today. When the curfew ends, Karim and his mates make an exciting find - a piece of waste ground that's great for a new football pitch, with its own special hideout. Twelve year old Karim, unable to play football with his friends, or escape from his unbearable older brother, is about to go crazy. Armed troops have kept the inhabitants inside for two weeks. With 23,000 copies already sold in the United Kingdom and Canada, this book is sure to find a wide audience among young adult readers in the United States.Outside the home of the Aboudi family in the Palestinian city of Ramallah, an Israeli tank blocks the street. This powerful book fills a substantial gap in existing young adult literature on the Middle East. And when Israeli soldiers find Karim outside during the next curfew, it seems impossible that he will survive. But in this city there’s constant danger, even for schoolboys. Nearby, an old car hidden intact under bulldozed building makes a brilliant den. When the curfew ends, he and his friend discover an unused patch of ground that’s the perfect site for a football pitch. Meanwhile, Karim, trapped at home with his teenage brother and fearful parents, longs to play football with his friends. In response to a Palestinian suicide bombing, the Israeli military subjects the West Bank town to a virtual siege. Twelve-year-old Karim Aboudi and his family are trapped in their Ramallah home by a strict curfew. Written by Elizabeth Laird, one of Great Britain’s best-known young adult authors, A Little Piece Of Ground explores the human cost of the occupation of Palestinian lands through the eyes of a young boy.

A Little Piece Of Ground will help young readers understand more about one of the worst conflicts afflicting our world today.

A Little Piece of Ground by Elizabeth Laird