Broken Bridge

One More River #2

by Lynne Reid Banks

The sequel to One More River
The murder of fourteen-year-old Glen Shelby, soon after his arrival in Israel to visit his father's family, has a dramatic effect on the lives of his relatives, the other members of their kibbutz, and the Arabs responsible for his death.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Middle East, Historical, War, Israel

336 pages, Paperback

First published April 27, 1995

About the author

Lynne 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.

Reviews

[Miguel · Rating 2 out of 5]

24 pages into the book and to be honest it’s not as interesting as I thought it was going to be. The main characters are not the problem as much as how the story started. The author starts off with talking about 2 cousins and how they are talking about there trip to Israel. The reason I don’t love this book so far is because his righting style is kinda boring and how to book is set up is bland. The characters are good and humorous but the beginning wasn’t really what I was looking for.

[Katt Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went into this book unsure. I hadn't liked the first one all that much, I felt it had been too unfair and impartial. I wasn't expecting to like this book, especially as it wandered into the world of sequels that happen years and years later.

I was pleasantly surprised.

Enough years have passed that our original main characters are the parents, their children the teenagers in the book. Yet we're unclear - who really is the protagonist? The teenagers, even the one who died feel flat, distant, only part of the story. This book played out more in the world of the adults, or the very soon to be adults. This book was an exploration of grief and loss, of coming of age and deciding for yourself what you believe - and once you know those things, what you shall do with it.

Did I like the book? Surprisingly, yes I did. Maybe we're not exactly impartial in what is taking place in Israel, but we're also telling the story from the side of the Jews - with a great deal of honesty regarding what they think and believe. And much as we hate the point of view of the enemy, there's truth there too, uncomfortable and sad.

But I'm glad I got to see what happened to Leslie and Noah. I'm glad that the tragedy of Glen happened offstage, and wish he hadn't been so flat. I wish I could have spent more time there, getting to know the other characters, and following their own stories to what happened next. Yet I leave content. The story has come full circle, and is done.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. All sides (Israeli, Palestinian, Western) are portrayed in an interesting light, and the characters are fleshed out enough to be 'readable'.

Also very nice to see an author treat the Israel / Palestinian situation in a reasonably fair light, paying attention to wrongs and rights on both sides.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

We read this book in 9th grade Global Studies class, and I thought it was very good. It filled us in on the history of the Israeli Palestinian conflict, but also more recent parts. Even though its a more historic filled book, it keeps you interested with the main characters, as they go through things that are relatable.

[Hilary · Rating 4 out of 5]

While "One More River" was very much a book for young teens, this is more for slightly older children. It's set some years after the first, and is darker, dare I say more realistic, in tone.

[Tyra M Sosnicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing. I love learning about new cultures, different parts of the world, and customs.

[Jaq · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid attempt to discuss the impact of a murder on a family.

[Capn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had completely forgotten that I had read this book (so I can't rate it). The description for the other editions didn't prompt any memories, but this one from the edition I had read (Hamish Hamilton hardback 1994), sure did:

Nimrod and Nili are Jewish teenagers growing up on a kibbutz. Their mother Lesley goes to meet Nili. At Ben Gurion airport she learns that Nili's plane has been blown-up by terrorists. Nili was prevented from boarding the plane by a mystery man and she, her brother and a friend set out to find him.

[Ayla Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like this book, it tells you a lot about the history of the Israeli Palestinian. It also talks a lot about the main characters which I like. It goes along with One more river very well and tells you about Leslies and Noah's children and their stories and life. This book is 40 years in the future after One more river so it tells you about future issues but I thought this book was amazing along with One More River and I rate it a 5 star.

[Dionne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though the writing itself seems a little disjointed at times, I found this story to be helpful in opening my eyes to the human emotions of the everyday person living in the area of the Israel/Palestine struggle. I wonder if there are real people living there that actually feel the way these characters feel. How much of the emotionally tone in this story is accurately detailed by the author? Who is her source?

[Allegra S · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I read this book I had no idea it was a sequel - it can definitely be read as a stand-alone.

Great discussion and history of the Israel-Palestine conflict for younger readers, as stories are told from both sides. Also a great book to show that there are two sides to every story and sometimes there is no simple solution.

Excellent read. Unique and unpredictable.

[Mdlrc905 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned that there is more than just living

[Bryan457]

Sequel to one more river.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

sequel to One More River, realistic human characters, sad, well written presentation of life in Israel

[Katy Kabler · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story was very good and enjoyable but the way the author wrote it was weak. I still thought it was a good book.

[Kumar · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was quite an interesting short novel and thought-provoking, not like the usual ones in the market these days, which seem to be full of bizarre twists and an uneven pace.

[Marion Aranjo · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of those adolescent fiction books that is fantastic - should be read by adults too.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Insightful, clear take for children on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

[Belle Meade School]

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[Belle Meade School]

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