This is a very powerful story about living either side of the Palestine/Israel divide. It is one of those stories that both child and their parent should read.... most children won't know/understand much about this topic and as an "opener" to a discussion it would be great. It is almost certain to remain topical for quite some time. The story is quite violent in places, but is both upsetting and uplifting in equal measure. It is certainly a book well worth reading by thoughtful Year 6 children.
A children's guide to the Israel/Palestine conflict can be found here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/20436092 "Joshua is thirteen. He lives with his mother and stepfather in Amarias, an isolated town on top of a hill, where all the houses are brand new. At the edge of Amarias is a high wall, guarded by soldiers, which can only be crossed through a heavily fortified checkpoint. Joshua has been taught that beyond the concrete is a brutal and unforgiving enemy, and that The Wall is the only thing keeping him and his people safe. One day, looking for a lost football, Joshua stumbles across a tunnel which leads towards this forbidden territory. He knows he won't get another opportunity to see what is beyond The Wall until he's old enough for military service, and the chance to crawl through and solve the mystery is too tempting to resist. He's heard plenty of stories about the other side, but nothing has prepared him for what he finds... The Wall is a novel about a boy who undertakes a short journey to another world, to a place where everything he knows about loyalty, identity and justice is turned upside down. It is also a political fable that powerfully evokes the realities of life on the West Bank, telling the story of a Settler child who finds there are two sides to every story." If you like this book try "A Little Piece of Ground" by Elizabeth Laird. It is on my summer wish list to read. |