2012 Puddly Awards
 
 
Follow us on TwitterFollow us on FacebookFollow us on TumblrSubscribe to RSS

Recently Viewed clear list

Interviews | January 24, 2012

Jill Owens: IMG Ben Marcus: The Powells.com Interview

0 comments By Jill Owens

Ben MarcusBen Marcus's books The Age of Wire and String and Notable American Women were considered "experimental" fiction because of his unconventional use of... Continue »
  1. $18.17 Sale Hardcover add to wish list

    The Flame Alphabet

    Ben Marcus 9780307379375
spacer
Free Shipping!

Ships free on qualified orders.
$9.95
New Trade Paper
Ships in 1 to 3 days
Add to Wishlist
Qty Store Section
25 Local Warehouse Children's- General
9 Remote Warehouse Children's- General

More copies of this ISBN

A Little Piece of Ground

by Elizabeth Laird

A Little Piece of Ground Cover

ISBN13: 9781931859387
ISBN10: 1931859388
All Product Details

 

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

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

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.

Twelve-year-old Karim Aboudi and his family are trapped in their Ramallah home by a strict curfew. In response to a Palestinian suicide bombing, the Israeli military subjects the West Bank town to a virtual siege. Meanwhile, Karim, trapped at home with his teenage brother and fearful parents, longs to play football with his friends. When the curfew ends, he and his friend discover an unused patch of ground that's the perfect site for a football pitch. Nearby, an old car hidden intact under bulldozed building makes a brilliant den. But in this city there's constant danger, even for schoolboys. And when Israeli soldiers find Karim outside during the next curfew, it seems impossible that he will survive.

This powerful book fills a substantial gap in existing young adult literature on the Middle East. 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.

Review:

"Sometimes we need more than escapism. No one but Elizabeth Laird could have written this book. She has lived in the Middle East. She knows it, loves it, grieves for it, and hopes for it. Read it, and know what it is to feel oppressed, to feel fear every day. And we should know it, and our children should know it, for this is how much of the world lives." Michael Morpurgo, British children's laureate

Review:

"An unflinching account of life under Israeli occupation." Glasgow Herald

Review:

"As notable in its way as James D. Forman's historical novels of the late '60s and '70s, A Little Piece of Ground deserves serious attention and discussion." School Library Journal

Review:

"[T]he heartbreaking personal drama visualizes the realistic challenges of wartime life at home, as well as the diversity of opinion about religion, class, and politics in the community. Recommend..." Booklist

Review:

"[A] stunning, sobering book that will fill a void in many Young Adult collections." Children's Literature

Review:

"Young readers will relate to the universal themes of growing up, despite Karim living his childhood in extraordinary circumstances. Well-written and compelling..." KLIATT

Synopsis:

An extraordinary book about war and peace through the eyes of a twelve-year-old boy.

Synopsis:

The story of a young Palestinian boy comes alive in the newest book from award-winning children's author Elizabeth Laird, revealing an honest and open illustration of a young life lived under occupation.

A Little Piece Of Ground will help young readers understand more about one of the worst conflicts afflicting our world today. Written by one of Great Britain's best-known young adult authors, Elizabeth Laird, A Little Piece Of Ground explores the human cost of the occupation of Palestinians lands through the eyes of a young boy.

This powerful book will help fill a substantial gap in existing young adult literature on the Middle East.

Karim and his family are trapped in their Ramallah home by a strict curfew. In response to a Palestinian suicide bombing, the Israeli military subjects the West Bank town to a virtual siege. Meanwhile Karim longs to play soccer with his friends. But in Ramallah there's constant danger, even for schoolchildren, and when Israeli soldiers find Karim outside during the next curfew, it seems impossible that he will survive.

back to top

About the Author

Elizabeth Laird is the author of Kiss the Dust and The Garbage King. She received the 2004 Hampshire Award for A Little Piece of Ground.
back to top

What Our Readers Are Saying

Add a comment for a chance to win!
Average customer rating based on 2 comments:
Ann Derrickson, November 7, 2006 (view all comments by Ann Derrickson)
This is an excellent, timely, and believable book, set in Ramallah and focusing on the aspirations of Karim Aboudi, a 12-year-old Palestinian boy who suffers under the Israeli occupation. It gives a clear, detailed picture of ways he and his family and friends are frustrated by the curfews imposed on them and how difficult they find it to study or conduct business. Televison announcements of more and more deaths punctuate the time at home, and only the "little piece of ground" shown Karim by his friend Hopper serves as a refuge from the incursions of the Israelis. It is a tranquil place where the boys can play soccer and paint a Palestinian flag, and it is unthinkable that it, too, should be violated. Exciting, tense passages describe the boys' dodging soldiers' bullets and Karim's hiding in an old car on the lot, where he also temporarily finds solace with a cat and her kittens. The story ends with an affirmation of the battle for pride and the will to survive the oppression.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No
(5 of 8 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
jane chesterman, October 31, 2006 (view all comments by jane chesterman)
'A Little Piece of Ground' is an outstanding book, enjoyed by adults as well as teenagers. It puts a human face on the suffering of the Palestinians, by telling the story of a 12-year-old boy growing up in Ramallah, who wants only to be a normal kid, enjoying soccer, computer games, and hanging out with friends. Living under military occupation, however, makes even the simplest of everyday activities very difficult.
This book should be read by everyone in the USA who wants to know what is really happening out in the Middle East.
Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No
(7 of 10 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
View all 2 comments
back to top

Product Details

ISBN:
9781931859387
Author:
Laird, Elizabeth
Publisher:
Haymarket Books
With:
Nimr, Sonia
Illustrator:
Neal, Bill
Author:
Nimr, Sonia
Subject:
General
Subject:
West Bank
Subject:
Arab-Israeli conflict
Subject:
General Juvenile Fiction
Subject:
Children s-General
Edition Description:
Trade Paper
Publication Date:
20061031
Binding:
TRADE PAPER
Grade Level:
from 4 up to 6
Language:
English
Illustrations:
YES
Pages:
240
Dimensions:
7.7 x 5.4 x 0.5 in 8 oz
Age Level:
08-12
back to top

Other books you might like

  1. $2.50 Used Trade Paper add to wish list

    Time Bomb

    Nigel Hinton 9781582462370
  2. $8.76 Google eBooks add to wish list

    Tanglewreck

    Jeanette Winterson 9781408825389
  3. $6.95 Used Hardcover add to wish list

    Clay

    David Almond 9780385731713
  4. $3.50 Used Hardcover add to wish list

    Names Will Never Hurt Me

    Jamie Levi Adoff 9780525471752
  5. $11.98 Google eBooks add to wish list

    Over a Thousand Hills I Walk with You

    Hanna Jansen 9780822565390
  6. $4.50 Used Trade Paper add to wish list

    Just Listen

    Sarah Dessen 9780142410974
back to top

Related Aisles

A Little Piece of Ground New Trade Paper
0 stars - 0 reviews
$9.95 In Stock
Product details 240 pages Haymarket Books - English 9781931859387 Reviews:
"Review" by , "Sometimes we need more than escapism. No one but Elizabeth Laird could have written this book. She has lived in the Middle East. She knows it, loves it, grieves for it, and hopes for it. Read it, and know what it is to feel oppressed, to feel fear every day. And we should know it, and our children should know it, for this is how much of the world lives."
"Review" by , "An unflinching account of life under Israeli occupation."
"Review" by , "As notable in its way as James D. Forman's historical novels of the late '60s and '70s, A Little Piece of Ground deserves serious attention and discussion."
"Review" by , "[T]he heartbreaking personal drama visualizes the realistic challenges of wartime life at home, as well as the diversity of opinion about religion, class, and politics in the community. Recommend..."
"Review" by , "[A] stunning, sobering book that will fill a void in many Young Adult collections."
"Review" by , "Young readers will relate to the universal themes of growing up, despite Karim living his childhood in extraordinary circumstances. Well-written and compelling..."
"Synopsis" by ,
An extraordinary book about war and peace through the eyes of a twelve-year-old boy.
"Synopsis" by , The story of a young Palestinian boy comes alive in the newest book from award-winning children's author Elizabeth Laird, revealing an honest and open illustration of a young life lived under occupation.

A Little Piece Of Ground will help young readers understand more about one of the worst conflicts afflicting our world today. Written by one of Great Britain's best-known young adult authors, Elizabeth Laird, A Little Piece Of Ground explores the human cost of the occupation of Palestinians lands through the eyes of a young boy.

This powerful book will help fill a substantial gap in existing young adult literature on the Middle East.

Karim and his family are trapped in their Ramallah home by a strict curfew. In response to a Palestinian suicide bombing, the Israeli military subjects the West Bank town to a virtual siege. Meanwhile Karim longs to play soccer with his friends. But in Ramallah there's constant danger, even for schoolchildren, and when Israeli soldiers find Karim outside during the next curfew, it seems impossible that he will survive.

spacer
spacer
  • back to top
Follow us on...


Powell's City of Books is an independent bookstore in Portland, Oregon, that fills a whole city block with more than a million new, used, and out of print books. Shop those shelves — plus literally millions more books, DVDs, and eBooks — here at Powells.com.