Sixteen-year-old Thomas Wanninger is on a mission: to find out what his grandfather, a Nazi officer, did during World War II. Thomas is going to Israel to work on a kibbutz, where he will have access to a Jerusalem archive that may hold the information he seeks. His life is one of many to be affected by a terrorist attack that occurs at 11: 47 A.M. on the day he arrives. Kibbutz members, a doctor, “the boss” of a diner, two Palestinian teenagers and their families, a bus driver, policemen, a news correspondent, an Israeli soldier, a Holocaust survivor . . . these and others add their voices to the minute-by-minute account of a catastrophic incident that changes everything, while at the same time renewing a deadly cycle of sacrifice and destruction.

Pnina Kass, who lives in Israel, delivers an even-handed and powerful portrayal of the complex world her characters inhabit. Chilling, suspenseful, and frighteningly real, this novel could be the back story behind tomorrow’s news.

"In this timely novel set in Israel, Kass (Tommy's New Bed) explores the effects of a terrorist act from multiple points of view. Her cast of characters includes the members of Kibbutz Broshim: head gardener Baruch Ben Tov, who is trying to erase the nightmare of the Holocaust from his memory, and Vera Brodsky, who came to the kibbutz to escape her parents' broken marriage and her boyfriend's suicide. Then there is newcomer Thomas Wanninger, a German 16-year-old who wants to 'know the truth' about his grandfather, a WWII Nazi officer. The author also (less thoroughly) expresses the sentiments of Sameh Laham, also 16, an angry Palestinian, whose mission to blow up a bus of Israelis takes an unexpected turn when Sameh ends up a survivor instead of a 'true martyr.' The author strives to remain objective, introducing both Israeli and Palestinian figures and reporting details about the explosion's aftermath through segments of news broadcasts. Yet her underlying message remains strongly political (pro Israeli) and less than hopeful. Readers may well empathize with Vera and Thomas, two victims of the explosion, but they will gain little insight into the cause of Israeli/Palestinian conflicts. With its graphic portrayal of violence and dark ironies, this novel is best suited for mature readers well-versed in Middle Eastern politics. Ages 12-up." Publishers Weekly (Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information, Inc.)

"Good reading for thoughtful teens." VOYA

'\"tense and heartbreaking...a complex kaleidoscope of perspectives...taut, immediate story...riveting...real-world terrorism...Kass is spot-on.\" KIRKUS REVIEWS'

'\"exhausting but illuminating...characters are deeply developed and painfully sympathetic as they find that they are inextricably and unexpectedly connected.\" SLJ'

"hilarious and warm story...cartoon illustrations add personality and humor to the characters...this story is a delight." SLJ, starred

'\"Timely novel explores the effects of a terrorist act from multiple points of view\" PW'

'\"shows how drastically lives can change from moment to the next...make(s) a strong impression\" HORN BOOK'

'\"Tense, terrifying...stories draw readers in...unforgettable is the grief and the chaos of the bombing and its aftermath.\" BOOKLIST'

Sixteen-year-old Thomas Wanninger wants to find out what his grandfather, a Nazi officer, did during World War II. Thomas is going to Israel to work on a kibbutz, where he will have access to a Jerusalem archive that may hold the information he seeks. His life is one of many to be affected by a terrorist attack that occurs on the day he arrives.

Pnina Moed Kass is an American who has lived in Israel for more than thirty-five years. She is a professional writer whose credits include short stories, television series, and picture books. This novel was inspired by real-life events that, sadly, are a part of the complex everyday reality of living in the Middle East.