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One More River
In a powerful coming-of-age novel, Lesley cannot imagine ever fitting in on the Israeli kibbutz where she cannot understand the language, where her communal living quarters are bare, and in which the threat of war with Arab nations hangs heavily in the air.
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1973
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276 people want to read
About the author
Lynne Reid Banks
97 books403 followersLynne Reid Banks is a British author of books for children and adults. She has written forty books, including the best-selling children's novel The Indian in the Cupboard, which has sold over 10 million copies and been made into a film.
Banks was born in London, the only child of James and Muriel Reid Banks. She was evacuated to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada during World War II but returned after the war was over. She attended St Teresa's School in Surrey. Prior to becoming a writer Banks was an actress, and also worked as a television journalist in Britain, one of the first women to do so. Her first novel, The L-Shaped Room, was published in 1960.
In 1962 Banks emigrated to Israel, where she taught for eight years on an Israeli kibbutz Yasur. In 1965 she married Chaim Stephenson, with whom she had three sons. Although the family returned to England in 1971 and Banks now lives in Dorset, the influence of her time in Israel can be seen in some of her books which are set partially or mainly on kibbutzim.
Banks was born in London, the only child of James and Muriel Reid Banks. She was evacuated to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada during World War II but returned after the war was over. She attended St Teresa's School in Surrey. Prior to becoming a writer Banks was an actress, and also worked as a television journalist in Britain, one of the first women to do so. Her first novel, The L-Shaped Room, was published in 1960.
In 1962 Banks emigrated to Israel, where she taught for eight years on an Israeli kibbutz Yasur. In 1965 she married Chaim Stephenson, with whom she had three sons. Although the family returned to England in 1971 and Banks now lives in Dorset, the influence of her time in Israel can be seen in some of her books which are set partially or mainly on kibbutzim.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 44 reviews
July 28, 2018
I read this when I was a teenager - and I loved it. I'll always remember the narrator, a teen girl describing how to cope with the heat - in Israel - she said something like - you've got to enjoy sweating - if you worry about your appearance, you're never going to cope. And I still think about it, probably because of living in Nicosia - where the same applies.
I also remember her vivid and accurate description of kibbutz life - how the children live in separate accommodation from their parents - they have a visiting time in the evening, specifically to be with their parents - no t.v. and everyone has jobs to support the community. Communal dining and cooking, washing up etc.
Written from a child's point of view it was devoid of any political or even religious statement - I remember the girl complained bitterly about having to learn Hebrew, but eventually it became part of her life. I remember more vaguely but strongly as well the strong bond with the other children, their activities away from the adults. I don't remember much about the Arabic boy, probably because his Arabic-ness was of no significance to me.
It's a really great book - and I've always wondered why the hell Lynne Reid Banks is known for "An Indian in the Cupboard" and not this?
I also remember her vivid and accurate description of kibbutz life - how the children live in separate accommodation from their parents - they have a visiting time in the evening, specifically to be with their parents - no t.v. and everyone has jobs to support the community. Communal dining and cooking, washing up etc.
Written from a child's point of view it was devoid of any political or even religious statement - I remember the girl complained bitterly about having to learn Hebrew, but eventually it became part of her life. I remember more vaguely but strongly as well the strong bond with the other children, their activities away from the adults. I don't remember much about the Arabic boy, probably because his Arabic-ness was of no significance to me.
It's a really great book - and I've always wondered why the hell Lynne Reid Banks is known for "An Indian in the Cupboard" and not this?
August 1, 2025
One More River – Book Review
Oh my goodness, y’all—I’ve been hunting down this book for YEARS! I couldn’t for the life of me remember the title, but recently, I finally found it and immediately had to grab a copy for myself. This book lived between mine and my childhood bestie’s (@linzarae—remember this one?! 😍) houses when we were younger. I probably checked it out from our local library every single week for years!
After Lindsay moved away, I stopped borrowing it because it just reminded me too much of her absence. Not long after, my own family moved, but this story always lingered in the back of my mind. 🫶
When I decided to make this a comfort read month, I knew I had to try to track it down. I was convinced the title had “River Jordan” in it, which made the search trickier, but after some digging, I found it—and bought it immediately, no hesitation! ❤️
Synopsis:
In One More River, Lesley Shelby’s world shifts when her parents leave their comfortable life in Canada to join a kibbutz in Israel. Suddenly surrounded by unfamiliar customs and rising tensions, Lesley must navigate culture shock, loneliness, and questions of identity. What begins as a reluctant move slowly becomes a powerful journey of growth, empathy, and learning to see the world—and herself—differently. And layered within Lesley’s personal journey is the historical backdrop of the Six-Day War, reminding readers how individual lives are shaped by the world around them.
My Final Thoughts:
Revisiting this childhood favorite was such a sweet and emotional experience. I was honestly a little nervous that it wouldn’t hold up, or that I wouldn’t love it the same way as an adult—but those fears melted away almost instantly. From the very first pages, I fell in love with this beautiful book all over again. 🥹
One line from early in the book really stayed with me this time around:
“We’re going where we can live on an edge… without challenges, we rot, mind, soul and body.”
That quiet urgency—of growth through discomfort—hits differently as an adult. It’s not just Lesley’s story of adaptation and change, but a reminder that stepping out of what’s comfortable is where some of the most meaningful transformation begins.
Reading this again felt like coming home to a part of myself I’d forgotten I missed. 💛
My rating:
Absolutely a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 star) for me!
QOTD:
Have you ever rediscovered a childhood favorite and fallen in love with it all over again?
Oh my goodness, y’all—I’ve been hunting down this book for YEARS! I couldn’t for the life of me remember the title, but recently, I finally found it and immediately had to grab a copy for myself. This book lived between mine and my childhood bestie’s (@linzarae—remember this one?! 😍) houses when we were younger. I probably checked it out from our local library every single week for years!
After Lindsay moved away, I stopped borrowing it because it just reminded me too much of her absence. Not long after, my own family moved, but this story always lingered in the back of my mind. 🫶
When I decided to make this a comfort read month, I knew I had to try to track it down. I was convinced the title had “River Jordan” in it, which made the search trickier, but after some digging, I found it—and bought it immediately, no hesitation! ❤️
Synopsis:
In One More River, Lesley Shelby’s world shifts when her parents leave their comfortable life in Canada to join a kibbutz in Israel. Suddenly surrounded by unfamiliar customs and rising tensions, Lesley must navigate culture shock, loneliness, and questions of identity. What begins as a reluctant move slowly becomes a powerful journey of growth, empathy, and learning to see the world—and herself—differently. And layered within Lesley’s personal journey is the historical backdrop of the Six-Day War, reminding readers how individual lives are shaped by the world around them.
My Final Thoughts:
Revisiting this childhood favorite was such a sweet and emotional experience. I was honestly a little nervous that it wouldn’t hold up, or that I wouldn’t love it the same way as an adult—but those fears melted away almost instantly. From the very first pages, I fell in love with this beautiful book all over again. 🥹
One line from early in the book really stayed with me this time around:
“We’re going where we can live on an edge… without challenges, we rot, mind, soul and body.”
That quiet urgency—of growth through discomfort—hits differently as an adult. It’s not just Lesley’s story of adaptation and change, but a reminder that stepping out of what’s comfortable is where some of the most meaningful transformation begins.
Reading this again felt like coming home to a part of myself I’d forgotten I missed. 💛
My rating:
Absolutely a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 star) for me!
QOTD:
Have you ever rediscovered a childhood favorite and fallen in love with it all over again?
March 9, 2010
I read this when I was about, I don't know, eleven or twelve? Something like that. And I found it again a while ago so I've just re-read it. It's about a wealthy Jewish Canadian teenager called Lesley whose parents decide they're all moving to a kibbutz in Israel. It really draws you in; it's interesting and enjoyable throughout. Initially, Lesley is furious and sad at being uprooted, but gradually comes to enjoy her new life. Her parents have their own struggles and the narration is perfect in conveying what's going on, while introducing the reader to potentially new concepts (I probably didn't even know what socialism was when I first read this).
Palestine doesn't get a single mention (or, okay, maybe one single mention not far from the end; but maybe I dreamt it. I went back and looked for it and couldn't find it), which I found a little odd, but ... well, I remember how it always used to drive me crazy that everything written about Northern Ireland had to mention the Troubles™. So, I don't know. But this novel does cover the Six Day War of 1967, and its tackling of the issues is appropriate to the age group it's aimed at. It succeeds in conveying the complicated relationship Israel has with its neighbours, and although sometimes characters make negative generalisations about Arabs, these are challenged. The kibbutz is right across the river from Jordan, and Lesley develops an interest in a Jordanian boy with whom she has a little contact. The end of the story is both beautiful and heartbreaking, leaving both teenage and adult readers with plenty to think about.
Palestine doesn't get a single mention (or, okay, maybe one single mention not far from the end; but maybe I dreamt it. I went back and looked for it and couldn't find it), which I found a little odd, but ... well, I remember how it always used to drive me crazy that everything written about Northern Ireland had to mention the Troubles™. So, I don't know. But this novel does cover the Six Day War of 1967, and its tackling of the issues is appropriate to the age group it's aimed at. It succeeds in conveying the complicated relationship Israel has with its neighbours, and although sometimes characters make negative generalisations about Arabs, these are challenged. The kibbutz is right across the river from Jordan, and Lesley develops an interest in a Jordanian boy with whom she has a little contact. The end of the story is both beautiful and heartbreaking, leaving both teenage and adult readers with plenty to think about.
July 17, 2008
I really enjoyed this coming of age story of a fourteen year old girl who emigrates from Canada to Israel in 1966 shortly before the six day war in 1967.
I really liked that there was a glossary of Hebrew and Yiddish words and that a map of the area was included. I’m a sucker for maps in books, whether they’re of the real world (as in this book) or a fantasy world.
I guess that almost everything that happened was predictable, but that didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the story. I loved a part about a donkey. I thought the ending was a bit weird (re focusing on a particular character in the way that it did) but that didn’t at all ruin the book for me.
The author lived on a kibbutz for nine years starting in 1962 including during the six day war and she married her husband and had her three children there so I figure she must know something of Israel during 1966-1967 when this story takes place.
I really liked that there was a glossary of Hebrew and Yiddish words and that a map of the area was included. I’m a sucker for maps in books, whether they’re of the real world (as in this book) or a fantasy world.
I guess that almost everything that happened was predictable, but that didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the story. I loved a part about a donkey. I thought the ending was a bit weird (re focusing on a particular character in the way that it did) but that didn’t at all ruin the book for me.
The author lived on a kibbutz for nine years starting in 1962 including during the six day war and she married her husband and had her three children there so I figure she must know something of Israel during 1966-1967 when this story takes place.
June 9, 2017
This is one of those books that I've been carrying around for years with the intent of reading it someday. I was fairly surprised when I read it to see what year it was actually written, and that at the time it hadn't been about a historical event at all, but about something that was very current at the time.
I'd thoroughly enjoyed other books by Lynne Reid Banks, so when this book opened, I was expecting a lot. Unfortunately this didn't pan out, as the characters that I met within these pages were fairly unlikeable, and even unrealistic. While the view of what it was like to live in Israel during the Six-Day War was interesting, and the communal-type life something that I'd knew very little about, I rather wished the plot had been more fleshed out and that perhaps a more balanced view of the events pictured might have been given. I felt this was very pro-Israel throughout, and portrayed the enemy somewhat unfairly as being ignorant and cruel.
Before I get flamed for this opinion, let's say that I felt that people on BOTH sides of the conflict had moments of ignorance and cruelty, just as there were those, I'm sure, on BOTH sides of the conflict that showed much courage and intelligence. I'm talking about BALANCE. This is a book about people who live rurally and farm. On both sides.
Overall I was disappointed. I have the sequel and intend to read it as well in hopes that being written so much later, (hopefully the author's skills shine through better) but it's not high on my priority list. I wish I could have given this a higher rating, but I simply could not.
I'd thoroughly enjoyed other books by Lynne Reid Banks, so when this book opened, I was expecting a lot. Unfortunately this didn't pan out, as the characters that I met within these pages were fairly unlikeable, and even unrealistic. While the view of what it was like to live in Israel during the Six-Day War was interesting, and the communal-type life something that I'd knew very little about, I rather wished the plot had been more fleshed out and that perhaps a more balanced view of the events pictured might have been given. I felt this was very pro-Israel throughout, and portrayed the enemy somewhat unfairly as being ignorant and cruel.
Before I get flamed for this opinion, let's say that I felt that people on BOTH sides of the conflict had moments of ignorance and cruelty, just as there were those, I'm sure, on BOTH sides of the conflict that showed much courage and intelligence. I'm talking about BALANCE. This is a book about people who live rurally and farm. On both sides.
Overall I was disappointed. I have the sequel and intend to read it as well in hopes that being written so much later, (hopefully the author's skills shine through better) but it's not high on my priority list. I wish I could have given this a higher rating, but I simply could not.
October 12, 2015
I first read this book when I was a little younger than Lesley, in the late 90s. At the time I didn't know much about Israel, and as an introduction to kibbutz life the novel was fascinating. It brought the Six-Day War to life, too, and raised some interesting questions about what it meant to be Jewish. As a coming-of-age story, it's well-written and absorbing.
However, I can't give the book more than three stars. The impression that you get from reading this book is that, yes, both sides are suffering, but that Israelis bought their land fair and square, the Arabs are largely driven by the shame of having lost the '48 war, and if only everyone saw one another as people then there wouldn't be war. It's reductive and something best read in coordination with a book written from a Palestinian perspective.
However, I can't give the book more than three stars. The impression that you get from reading this book is that, yes, both sides are suffering, but that Israelis bought their land fair and square, the Arabs are largely driven by the shame of having lost the '48 war, and if only everyone saw one another as people then there wouldn't be war. It's reductive and something best read in coordination with a book written from a Palestinian perspective.
October 13, 2022
Brilliant book. I thought this book might trigger me as I’m a Muslim-Arab who hates the Israeli government (but have nothing against Jews). Thought maybe it would sugar coat the Israeli government’s crimes or dumb down the Arabs, but it never happened! Instead, we watch as Leslie goes through a journey of learning about community and family, and wishing for peace between Jews/ Israelis and Arabs. I loved the book. It was absolutely brilliant. There were a few things here and there about the way she portrayed m Arabs that didn’t sit right with me, but nothing triggering. It was honestly understandable for the author to be a bit stereotypical about some stuff. I mean, some of my views on how Israelis thought about us changed too. I was also a bit ignorant. Anyhow, I loved the book, I loved the writing. Thought provoking, brilliant, and emotional.
April 5, 2024
A thought-proving book to read in these troubling times in the Middle East. It isn't perfect but may provide young teenagers with an insight into the current conflict.
May 13, 2022
I originally bought this book about seven years ago after I read an extract from the first chapter in an English lesson at school and really liked the look of the book. I started reading it back then, but for some reason I couldn’t get into it back then… so I decided to put it aside. I then picked it up again this year and finished it in just a few days.
“One More River” tells the story of a fourteen year old Jewish Canadian girl named Lesley, who has lived a very comfortable and wealthy lifestyle in Canada for all of her life. She feels as though she has the perfect life - that is, until her parents tell her that they are going to be moving to Israel to live a completely different kind of lifestyle to their Canadian one. The book follows Lesley as she comes to terms with her parents decision and gets used to a drastically different way of life on a kibbutz, where children are expected to work, only see their parents at specific times, learn and speak Hebrew, and live very minimalistic lifestyles.
Although I can’t say I enjoyed this book as much as I enjoyed the first two books I read this year (which is why I’ve only given it three stars), I did really like the book overall. I felt Lesley was a realistic character, and although she did make herself unlikeable at times, she was overall likeable and empathised with. I felt her struggles (getting used to living completely differently, trying to understand her parents - particularly her father, learning a completely new language) were all realistic, as were her reactions to these struggles. I loved the subplot about Noah and Donna, though i found it heartbreaking. I loved learning about different religions (I’m not religious at all) and although some people didn’t like the number of Hebrew words used in the story, I personally loved that - I felt it was a really great addition.
The one and only thing that disappointed me was the ending. I loved how, by the end of the story, Lesley had come to accept and enjoy her new life, but I found the actual ending of the story rather disappointing. I don’t know what it was - I guess it just wasn’t what I expected? And when I say that, I don’t mean that there was a plot twist or anything like that - I just expected it to end on a different note, with a different scene? I’m not sure what I expected. But I didn’t expect that..?
But overall, an enjoyable lil read that I’m very glad I gave another chance after all these years!!! I would recommend :)
“One More River” tells the story of a fourteen year old Jewish Canadian girl named Lesley, who has lived a very comfortable and wealthy lifestyle in Canada for all of her life. She feels as though she has the perfect life - that is, until her parents tell her that they are going to be moving to Israel to live a completely different kind of lifestyle to their Canadian one. The book follows Lesley as she comes to terms with her parents decision and gets used to a drastically different way of life on a kibbutz, where children are expected to work, only see their parents at specific times, learn and speak Hebrew, and live very minimalistic lifestyles.
Although I can’t say I enjoyed this book as much as I enjoyed the first two books I read this year (which is why I’ve only given it three stars), I did really like the book overall. I felt Lesley was a realistic character, and although she did make herself unlikeable at times, she was overall likeable and empathised with. I felt her struggles (getting used to living completely differently, trying to understand her parents - particularly her father, learning a completely new language) were all realistic, as were her reactions to these struggles. I loved the subplot about Noah and Donna, though i found it heartbreaking. I loved learning about different religions (I’m not religious at all) and although some people didn’t like the number of Hebrew words used in the story, I personally loved that - I felt it was a really great addition.
The one and only thing that disappointed me was the ending. I loved how, by the end of the story, Lesley had come to accept and enjoy her new life, but I found the actual ending of the story rather disappointing. I don’t know what it was - I guess it just wasn’t what I expected? And when I say that, I don’t mean that there was a plot twist or anything like that - I just expected it to end on a different note, with a different scene? I’m not sure what I expected. But I didn’t expect that..?
But overall, an enjoyable lil read that I’m very glad I gave another chance after all these years!!! I would recommend :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 3, 2019
Enjoyed this as a child, enjoyed reading it again.
October 19, 2023
I reread this recently. It is especially interesting with current events in the Middle East. The book has actually aged quite well.
December 13, 2023
A book that was published 50 years ago but remains topical and very readable.
December 30, 2023
Interesting to see this again with more perspective. Much of the salient point of intra-Jewish conflict (Zionism vs religion) were lost on me when I first read it in seventh grade.
January 3, 2024
I just finished the book and i found it mixing the emotions you feel towards the main character “Les” to the colonization of Isreal
December 6, 2017
I have not finished reading this book yet, but as much as I read. A little girl named Lesley has to emigrate from Canada because her parents were Jews. Lesley doesn't want to leave Canada, but she has to. She is Now telling her friends about this, she tells her friends but her parents still have to go. Lesley's mum tells her a story: When she got married to her dad, she did not want to be Jewish, but they made an agreement, any child raised would be jewish.
April 1, 2024
I thought this book was just ok. It is about a Jewish girl who goes to live in a kibbitz in Israel around the time of the war. It also starts to show how children don't understand war and what it means to hate the other side.
September 1, 2023
Definitely a product of its time in the way it was written - dated language and culture references. However, it being a book for young adults gave it a simplicity that made the topic and timeline easy to understand. I was a bit surprised at the complexity of the ending and wish that the author had included such depth in the rest of the book.
This is the rare book about Israel that barely mentions religion. In fact, it was almost bizarre in how it treated (and failed to explain) the religious component of Judaism. I would say it is a purely cultural and political subject in this book.
This is the rare book about Israel that barely mentions religion. In fact, it was almost bizarre in how it treated (and failed to explain) the religious component of Judaism. I would say it is a purely cultural and political subject in this book.
January 30, 2024
The announcement that they are moving to Israel comes as a bombshell to Lesley. It’s true that her parents are Orthodox Jews who keep kosher and go to synagogue. Mr. Shelby even declared his son, Noah, dead after he married a Gentile. But, to sell a thriving department store and leave their lives behind for an ideal seems unthinkable. Mr. Shelby says that they need to move where they "can live on the edge." He feels that they are all rotting mind, body, and soul. Lesley goes to see Noah hoping for an ally against her parents. He makes her realize that she has grown into a princess, a spoiled hopeless person, just as their father said. She changes her mind about moving, but not wanting her parents to know that she's given in, she starts studying Hebrew and reading books about Jewish history and Israel in secret. The Shelbys relocate to an Israeli kibbutz, and slowly adjust to the endless hard work and communal living. Lesley becomes fascinated with an Arab boy who lives across the Jordan River. Her initiation into the youth movement causes her to cross the bridge that separates Israel and Jordan. She finds the Arab boy's donkey, and it follows her home. While taking the donkey back, she finally meets Mustapha whom she has watched for months. Then war comes and all in the kibbutz are very busy preparing for possible attack. Many of the young men and women go to fight. A few are killed. After peace, Lesley again meets Mustapha in Tubas during a field trip to the Holy City. They both realize that they can never be friends because their countries will not allow it.
©2024 Kathy Maxwell at https://bookskidslike.com
©2024 Kathy Maxwell at https://bookskidslike.com
November 3, 2016
I am so angry at myself for not picking up this book sooner! Quite honestly, the title and cover never really appealled to me; so as more exciting books came onto my shelf, I kept moving One More River to the side....ugh, don't you just hate having to admit how wrong you were!?
This book was A-MAZ-ING!! It grabs your attention, it's intriguing from the first page to the last, and I am not joking when I say that you literally fall in love with these characters.
To put it simply, the story is about a man named Mickey Moe Levy, who is trying to learn more about his father's past in order to convince his fiance's family that he is worthy enough to marry her. While Mickey Moe's story is interesting, and keeps the pace of the novel moving, it is truly the story of, Bernard Levy, Mickey Moe's father, that will move you in ways you never thought possible.
The adventure that is Bernard's life - from how he was raised, to how he becomes best friends with two black siblings (in a time when the association could prove deadly) - is fascinating, funny and immensely loving. Bernard's passion for life, at both the happiest and saddest of times - makes his character unforgettable. You root for him the entire time, and every time he goes through any emotion, you feel it right along with him. Mary Glickman is a fantastically talented storyteller and this book will just knock your socks off - take my word for it!
5 out of 5 stars!
This book was A-MAZ-ING!! It grabs your attention, it's intriguing from the first page to the last, and I am not joking when I say that you literally fall in love with these characters.
To put it simply, the story is about a man named Mickey Moe Levy, who is trying to learn more about his father's past in order to convince his fiance's family that he is worthy enough to marry her. While Mickey Moe's story is interesting, and keeps the pace of the novel moving, it is truly the story of, Bernard Levy, Mickey Moe's father, that will move you in ways you never thought possible.
The adventure that is Bernard's life - from how he was raised, to how he becomes best friends with two black siblings (in a time when the association could prove deadly) - is fascinating, funny and immensely loving. Bernard's passion for life, at both the happiest and saddest of times - makes his character unforgettable. You root for him the entire time, and every time he goes through any emotion, you feel it right along with him. Mary Glickman is a fantastically talented storyteller and this book will just knock your socks off - take my word for it!
5 out of 5 stars!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 12, 2025
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 25, 2012
This is one of those books that showed up at the exact right time in my life and understood me in a way people couldn't. Leslie is a well-to-do slightly spoiled princess from Canada used to an easy life. Her parents decide on a whim to move to Israel and Leslie must adjust to a new language, a new culture, and life on a kibbutz! The book also explores in depth questions of identity, race, and religion. What does it mean to be Jewish? Am I more Jewish practicing religion in Canada or just being in Israel? How do my deep beliefs about religion affect my relationships?
The book also explores complex questions of relationships with enemies as Leslie befriends a mistreated boy across enemy lines in Jordan---who in turn, abuses his donkey. Their friendship/enemyship is one of the great understories of the book and you find yourself hoping they will find peace, so the world can find peace.
I discovered this book shortly after moving to NYC and could relate to Leslie's struggles with new culture, new identity, new challenges, and changing from being "soft" to learning what life lived on the edge is.
One of my all-time favorites that has helped shape my life.
The book also explores complex questions of relationships with enemies as Leslie befriends a mistreated boy across enemy lines in Jordan---who in turn, abuses his donkey. Their friendship/enemyship is one of the great understories of the book and you find yourself hoping they will find peace, so the world can find peace.
I discovered this book shortly after moving to NYC and could relate to Leslie's struggles with new culture, new identity, new challenges, and changing from being "soft" to learning what life lived on the edge is.
One of my all-time favorites that has helped shape my life.
January 29, 2024
this book is about a girl moving to a kibbutz in israel, covering israel’s six-day war with jordan. the girl builds an uncommon relationship with a jordanien boy from across the river. their curiosity towards each other illustrates the absurdity of the violence and hatred created by israel. it acknowledges the complexity of the jewish sense of belonging to the land of israel and its clashing with the geo-political identity of the state itself. the lack of mention of palestine is upsetting as well as some strange generalizations about arabs, although they are questioned and criticized within the book. this book made me think. i appreciate it being written from quite a unique perspective as well as the realness and sentiment of certain phrases and excerpts that stuck with me. the end accurately depicts the heartbreaking truth of this area.
October 9, 2012
A new friend lended me this book to read. I just came to Israel for an extended stay and there are some things here that are so difficult! Despite the Zionistic dream of living in the Jewish homeland, land of our ancestors, the day-to-day struggles are hard ...overcoming language barriors, meeting people, figuring out where to fit in and missing friends & comforts back in the US and the endless lines to wait in! It was so easy to relate to the feelings and difficulties faced by the main charactor, Lesley, a teenager who is uprooted from her comfortable life in Canada and forced by her parents to move with them to Israel. This book gave a down-to-earth view of integrating into Israeli culture and what it means to be living across the river from hostile neighbors.
May 14, 2011
I think this book would be good for a book club discussion. It is simply written and on the surface appears to be a pretty straightforward story, but it deals with some complex themes - popularity, friendship, cultural conflict, war, and class distinctions. The plot focuses on a rich young Jewish Canadian girl who immigrates to a Kibbutz in Israel against her wishes. There she learns about a totally different way of life and lives through the six day war between Egypt and Israel, between the Jewish and Arab cultures. It is an insightful look at how "us" and "them" are not always so easily defined.
April 25, 2015
I liked it, but there was some misinformation at the beginning. Lesley's brother asked a Rabbi to marry him and his Catholic girlfriend, and the Rabbi said no. So they asked a priest, and the priest sad no. Then later when they asked the priest again he said 'okay, as long as Noah' (Lesley's brother) 'converts to Catholism and all the kids are raised Catholic.' A priest wouldn't bribe them like that. What a priest would do if a Catholic wanted to marry a non-Catholic (in this case, a Jew) would be that he would ask the Bishop, who will almost always give permission.
Read
February 15, 2012I am all about discovering obscure Lynne Reid Banks books, so when I found a copy of this at a book fair in Indonesia (no, I have no idea what it was doing there), I of course bought it. I was not disappointed. While it doesn't quite live up to the brilliance of Melusine, this still provides a solid story with interesting characters and gives the reader a lot to think about.
And now I find that it's a series. Clearly we know what I'll be doing now (searching for number two throughout all of Indonesia).
And now I find that it's a series. Clearly we know what I'll be doing now (searching for number two throughout all of Indonesia).
March 24, 2019
Pro tip, if you give this to a middle class American fifth grader to read, who only knows about war from Disney movies, you're going to have to give some context lessons to understand what was going on here.
And even if that had happened, I suspect I might have drawn the same conclusion that everyone involved was just stupid. Sorry / not sorry, I hold to my ten-year-old self's reaction to this book.
June 5, 2022
I picked this up ages ago because I remember really liking Lynne Reid Banks when I was a kid. And this was an interesting YA novel following the story of a Canadian girl whose family moves to Israel just months before the Six-Day War in 1967. As she adjusts to life on a kibbutz and explores her Jewish/Israeli identity, she grows from a fairly typical, well-off, appearance-oriented teenager to a determined young woman curious about and conscious of the complexities of the conflict.
August 9, 2011
This book is about a Jewish/Canadian girl who has to move to Israel because her parents want her to be a better Jew. There were too many Hebrew words throughout the book and when English was spoken it was broken English, making it hard to read. In the back of the book there were a few Hebrew words translated but I did not like flipping back and forth to look up a word.
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