Elizabeth Laird's stories are fantastic for learning about conflicts around the world to increase your general knowledge. This book became very controversial, which shows how good and powerful it is, especially as it is a children's book giving a child's perspective. It is set in the West Bank, Palestine, and is a wonderful account of what it must be like to be growing up in that area as a young Palestinian boy.
"Outside the home of the Aboudi in the Palestinian city of Ramallah, an Israeli tank blocks the street. Armed troops have kept the inhabitants inside for two weeks. Twelve year old Karim, unable to play football with his friends, or escape from his unbearable older brother, is about to go crazy. 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. But their secret den becomes a terrifying death-trap when the soldiers with guns return. A 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." |