What do you think?
Rate this book
یک تکه زمین کوچک
در زندگیام میخواهم چی بشوم؟ بهترین فوتبالیست دنیا پسری خیلی باحال، خوشتیپ و قدبلندتر از برادرم جمال بزرگترین طراح بازیهای رایانهای و مخترع اسیدی خیلی قوی که فولاد تانکهای اسرائیلی را آب کند.
296 pages, Paperback
First published August 15, 2003
87 people are currently reading
1347 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Laird
214 books197 followersLaird was born in New Zealand in 1943, the fourth of five children. Her father was a ship's surgeon; both he and Laird's mother were Scottish. In 1945, Laird and her family returned to Britain and she grew up in South London, where she was educated at Croydon High School.
When she was eighteen, Laird started teaching at a school in Malaysia. She decided to continue her adventurous life, even though she was bitten by a poisonous snake and went down with typhoid.
After attending the university in Bristol, Laird began teaching English in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. She and a friend would hire mules and go into remote areas in the holidays.
After a while at Edinburgh University, Laird worked in India for a summer. During travel, she met her future husband, David McDowall, who she said was very kind to her when she was airsick on a plane. The couple were married in 1975 and have two sons, Angus and William.
Laird has also visited Iraq and Lebanon. She claims to dislike snakes, porridge and being cold but enjoys very dark chocolate, Mozart, reading and playing the violin in the Iraq Symphony Orchestra.
She currently lives in Richmond, London with her husband.
When she was eighteen, Laird started teaching at a school in Malaysia. She decided to continue her adventurous life, even though she was bitten by a poisonous snake and went down with typhoid.
After attending the university in Bristol, Laird began teaching English in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. She and a friend would hire mules and go into remote areas in the holidays.
After a while at Edinburgh University, Laird worked in India for a summer. During travel, she met her future husband, David McDowall, who she said was very kind to her when she was airsick on a plane. The couple were married in 1975 and have two sons, Angus and William.
Laird has also visited Iraq and Lebanon. She claims to dislike snakes, porridge and being cold but enjoys very dark chocolate, Mozart, reading and playing the violin in the Iraq Symphony Orchestra.
She currently lives in Richmond, London with her husband.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 175 reviews
October 31, 2018
عندما تريد ان تكتب قصة عن طفل فتبدأها بأمنية لذلك الطفل والتي يعتبرها من اهم عشرة امنيات يريدها في حياته وهي انه لا يريد ان تصيبه رصاصة بسببها يكون حبيس مقعد متحرك طوال حياته مثل صديقه في المدرسة
واذا كان لابد من اصابة بالرصاص فتكون قابلة للشفاء وليست في الرأس او العمود الفقري
فيجب ان تتأكد ان القصة ستكون عن الطفل فلسطيني والذي اعتبرهم رجال منذ ولادتهم وليسوا اطفالا ابدا
قصة عن الطفل كريم الذي يتمني ان يكون بطل عالم لكرة القدم ومخترع مادة كيميائية تذيب فولاذ الدبابات الإسرائيلية ويكون محرر فلسطين
قصة جميلة وقراءة مشتركة مع الصديق العزيز حسام اللي لحد دلوقتي مش عاجباه :)
واذا كان لابد من اصابة بالرصاص فتكون قابلة للشفاء وليست في الرأس او العمود الفقري
فيجب ان تتأكد ان القصة ستكون عن الطفل فلسطيني والذي اعتبرهم رجال منذ ولادتهم وليسوا اطفالا ابدا
قصة عن الطفل كريم الذي يتمني ان يكون بطل عالم لكرة القدم ومخترع مادة كيميائية تذيب فولاذ الدبابات الإسرائيلية ويكون محرر فلسطين
قصة جميلة وقراءة مشتركة مع الصديق العزيز حسام اللي لحد دلوقتي مش عاجباه :)
May 31, 2012
A really great book that made me feel that no matter what my kids will make it in their lives.I wish they will be as strong as Karim. I beleive that parents should read this book to get an idea of how our kids servive here.
March 23, 2024
کریم، پسر نوجوانی از اهالی رام الله فلسطین است. شهری که مدام توسط اسرائیلیهای غاصب کوچک و محدود میشود. شهرک نشینان و نظامیان صهیونیست هر روز بیشتر به مردم شهر فشار میآورند و تعدادی شهید و زخمی میشوند. کریم عاشق فوتبال است و با دوستانش جانی و هوپر، میخواهند یک زمین کوچک سنگلاخ را به زمینی مناسب فوتبال بازی کردن تبدیل کنند؛ اما اگر این اسرائیلی ها بگذارند...
الیزابت لرد در این کتاب، به خوبی توانسته سختی زندگی و محدود بودن فلسطینیهای ساکن کرانه باختری را به تصویر بکشد. نوجوانان پر آرزویی مانند کریم که وقتی بیشتر با شرایط واقعی زندگی آشنا میشوند، لیست آرزوهایشان از تبدیل شدن به فوتبالیستی بزرگ، به قهرمان نجات بخش فلسطین و حتی به میخواهم زنده بمانم ختم میشود.
در کنار به خوبی به تصویر کشیدن غصب زمینها و خانهها و به ذلت کشیدن فلسطینیها توسط اسرائیلیها، بحث تلاش برای مبارزه و گرفتن حق خود از این غاصبان صهیونیست نیز به خوبی در کتاب به تصویر کشیده شده است.
یک تکه زمین کوچک، میتواند مخاطبینش مخصوصا نوجوانان را وسط این همه اخبار متعدد از فلسطین، کمی به زندگی واقعی آنان البته با مدل زندگی در کرانه باختری نه فضای غزه نزدیک کند.
الیزابت لرد در این کتاب، به خوبی توانسته سختی زندگی و محدود بودن فلسطینیهای ساکن کرانه باختری را به تصویر بکشد. نوجوانان پر آرزویی مانند کریم که وقتی بیشتر با شرایط واقعی زندگی آشنا میشوند، لیست آرزوهایشان از تبدیل شدن به فوتبالیستی بزرگ، به قهرمان نجات بخش فلسطین و حتی به میخواهم زنده بمانم ختم میشود.
در کنار به خوبی به تصویر کشیدن غصب زمینها و خانهها و به ذلت کشیدن فلسطینیها توسط اسرائیلیها، بحث تلاش برای مبارزه و گرفتن حق خود از این غاصبان صهیونیست نیز به خوبی در کتاب به تصویر کشیده شده است.
یک تکه زمین کوچک، میتواند مخاطبینش مخصوصا نوجوانان را وسط این همه اخبار متعدد از فلسطین، کمی به زندگی واقعی آنان البته با مدل زندگی در کرانه باختری نه فضای غزه نزدیک کند.
January 11, 2021
مطلوب، مطلوب، مطلوب.
چه میخواهیم از یک رمان نوجوان؟ موضوع جذاب، نزدیک به مسائل و مصائب نوجوانی، آرمانهای متعالی انسانی را دیدن و روایت کردن، شخصیتهای شکلگرفته و دیالوگهای پخته و باورپذیر.
این کتاب همه را داشت.
چه میخواهیم از یک رمان نوجوان؟ موضوع جذاب، نزدیک به مسائل و مصائب نوجوانی، آرمانهای متعالی انسانی را دیدن و روایت کردن، شخصیتهای شکلگرفته و دیالوگهای پخته و باورپذیر.
این کتاب همه را داشت.
April 4, 2020
القصة لا تتحدث عن سياسيين وشخصيات عامة وتاريخ وجغرافيا، بل تحكي بنزاهة صادمة، يوميات طفل فلسطيني وأسرته في أجواء الانتفاضة الأخيرة.
وبطل الاحداث هو كريم، ذو الاثني عشر عاما، وابن الطبقة الفلسطينية المتوسطة، حيث يملك والده مخزناً لبيع الأدوات الكهربائية في رام الله، فيما أمه طبيبة في الجامعة.
وينقلك المشهد الأول عندما يكتب كريم أحلامه كطفل في رام الله، فهو يحلم أن يكون بطل العالم في كرة القدم التي يعشقها، وأن يكبر فيصبح وسيماً وطويلاً أكثر من أخيه جمال، وبطلاً قومياً شهيراً كمذيع أو فنان مشهور، أو مثلا كمخترع للعبة كومبيوتر جديدة، وربما مخترعاً لمركب كيمياوي يحل ويذيب فولاذ الدبابات الإسرائيلية، وأن يكون أقوى من زميله جوني في المدرسة.
لكنه يكتب عشرة أشياء لا يريد أن يكونها، مثل أن يكون بائعاً في محل كأبيه، أو طبيباً كوالدته، وألا يكون قصير القامة، وألا يصاب بالرصاص في ظهره ليقضي عمره على كرسي متحرك مثل ذلك الرجل الذي يراه في المدرسة، كما انه لا يتمنى أن يرى بيته يسحق بالجرافات الإسرائيلية فيسكن في خيمة، ويتمنى كذلك ألا يذهب إلى المدرسة، وألا يعيش تحت الاحتلال، كي لا يوقفه الجنود الإسرائيليون على الحواجز، ومن أمنياته أيضا، ألا يكون جباناً.. وببساطة متناهية ألا يموت!.
أسرة كريم هي نموذج أسرة فلسطينية تحت الاحتلال، تتعرض لحظر التجول وتبقى حبيسة البيت لأيام، لأن الدبابات الإسرائيلية الجاثمة على زاوية الطريق، تبحث عن هدف متحرك، وفي سجنها المنزلي تعيش الأسرة مع مخاوفها من المفاجآت ومن انتظار اللامتوقع ومن تفاقم مرض الطفلة الصغيرة في غياب عدم القدرة على احضار الدواء، بل وفي ظل الخوف من الاطلال من النافذة خشية من المدافع الرشاشة التي لن تتردد في تدمير النافذة التي قد يطل منها أحد الرؤوس.
بعد حظر التجول تقرر الأسرة التوجه إلى القرية، لجني الزيتون من الأرض، التي ورثها والد كريم عن والده، لكن يتصادف وقت الرحلة مع عملية تفجيرية يقوم بها المقاومون الفلسطينيون في مكان ما في الضفة الغربية، يتلوها انتشار كثيف للحواجز العسكرية الإسرائيلية للتفتيش. وفي إحدى نقاط التفتيش، يعيش كريم لحظات قلق وشعورا بالهزيمة وهو يرى أباه، وهو رمز القوة والكبرياء، يقتاد خارج السيارة ويتعرض مع عشرات الرجال والشباب والشيوخ لتفتيش مهين.
بعد مشهد التفتيش المهين، يصل الركب إلى القرية، حيث العائلة الكبيرة، والريف الفلسطيني الرائع، والأقارب والأحاديث والثرثرات والمخاوف من المستوطنين الجدد الذين استولوا على بعض اراضي القرية. لكن حديثاً متبادلاً بين كريم وعمه «أبو فيصل»، يضع القارئ أمام حوار بين جيلين لكل تجربته وتصوراته، فأبو فيصل ينتمي إلى جيل النكسة الذي خسر الأرض الباقية من فلسطين، أما كريم فهو من جيل ناهض من بين حطام الأجيال السابقة، واهوال النكبة والنكسة. يقول له أبو فيصل: عندما وقعنا تحت الاحتلال يا كريم في عام 1967، كنت في هذه القرية أعمل في المزرعة، كنت شاباً وكان لديّ متسع من الوقت لأفكر بالأشياء ككل ريفي. يومها قلت في نفسي: ربما كان اليهود على حق، ربما كانوا افضل منا ويستحقون أن يأخذوا أرضنا، لأننا شعب جاهل.. لذلك راقبتهم عن قرب لوقت طويل، محاولاً التأكد من تفوقهم، لكن في النهاية تبين لي أنهم ليسوا متفوقين علينا، كان بينهم الجيد والسيئ والطيب والاخلاقي والجشع والمقنع، والمتألم.. باختصار نساء ورجال وأطفال مثلنا مثلهم، مخلوقات بشرية، وهذا ما آلمني.
هل أرادت الكاتبة أن تقول لنا إن الجيل القديم من الفلسطينيين، جيل الـ 48، أكثر استعداداً للتعايش مع الإسرائيليين من جيل أطفال الحجارة؟..
تتطور شخصية كريم حين يلتقي بالفتى جندب، الذي كان اخوه معتقلا في احد سجون اسرائيل، لأنه تصدى لمجندة اسرائيلية اهانته على احد الحواجز ورمت هويته في الطين.
والشخصية الأخرى التي كانت عاملاً أساسياً في تطور شخصيته، هي جانيت الفلسطينية المسيحية، التي تستخرج من شخصيته افضل ما فيها، وتوحد في ذاته ما بين الخاص والعام، والذات والموضوع. ونجحت اليزابيث ليرد، في عكس ثراء هذه الشخصيات، وتأثيراتها الايجابية على بعضها بعضا، بالتوازي مع التطورات الحاصلة في عالمهم الخارجي العاصف.
وبطل الاحداث هو كريم، ذو الاثني عشر عاما، وابن الطبقة الفلسطينية المتوسطة، حيث يملك والده مخزناً لبيع الأدوات الكهربائية في رام الله، فيما أمه طبيبة في الجامعة.
وينقلك المشهد الأول عندما يكتب كريم أحلامه كطفل في رام الله، فهو يحلم أن يكون بطل العالم في كرة القدم التي يعشقها، وأن يكبر فيصبح وسيماً وطويلاً أكثر من أخيه جمال، وبطلاً قومياً شهيراً كمذيع أو فنان مشهور، أو مثلا كمخترع للعبة كومبيوتر جديدة، وربما مخترعاً لمركب كيمياوي يحل ويذيب فولاذ الدبابات الإسرائيلية، وأن يكون أقوى من زميله جوني في المدرسة.
لكنه يكتب عشرة أشياء لا يريد أن يكونها، مثل أن يكون بائعاً في محل كأبيه، أو طبيباً كوالدته، وألا يكون قصير القامة، وألا يصاب بالرصاص في ظهره ليقضي عمره على كرسي متحرك مثل ذلك الرجل الذي يراه في المدرسة، كما انه لا يتمنى أن يرى بيته يسحق بالجرافات الإسرائيلية فيسكن في خيمة، ويتمنى كذلك ألا يذهب إلى المدرسة، وألا يعيش تحت الاحتلال، كي لا يوقفه الجنود الإسرائيليون على الحواجز، ومن أمنياته أيضا، ألا يكون جباناً.. وببساطة متناهية ألا يموت!.
أسرة كريم هي نموذج أسرة فلسطينية تحت الاحتلال، تتعرض لحظر التجول وتبقى حبيسة البيت لأيام، لأن الدبابات الإسرائيلية الجاثمة على زاوية الطريق، تبحث عن هدف متحرك، وفي سجنها المنزلي تعيش الأسرة مع مخاوفها من المفاجآت ومن انتظار اللامتوقع ومن تفاقم مرض الطفلة الصغيرة في غياب عدم القدرة على احضار الدواء، بل وفي ظل الخوف من الاطلال من النافذة خشية من المدافع الرشاشة التي لن تتردد في تدمير النافذة التي قد يطل منها أحد الرؤوس.
بعد حظر التجول تقرر الأسرة التوجه إلى القرية، لجني الزيتون من الأرض، التي ورثها والد كريم عن والده، لكن يتصادف وقت الرحلة مع عملية تفجيرية يقوم بها المقاومون الفلسطينيون في مكان ما في الضفة الغربية، يتلوها انتشار كثيف للحواجز العسكرية الإسرائيلية للتفتيش. وفي إحدى نقاط التفتيش، يعيش كريم لحظات قلق وشعورا بالهزيمة وهو يرى أباه، وهو رمز القوة والكبرياء، يقتاد خارج السيارة ويتعرض مع عشرات الرجال والشباب والشيوخ لتفتيش مهين.
بعد مشهد التفتيش المهين، يصل الركب إلى القرية، حيث العائلة الكبيرة، والريف الفلسطيني الرائع، والأقارب والأحاديث والثرثرات والمخاوف من المستوطنين الجدد الذين استولوا على بعض اراضي القرية. لكن حديثاً متبادلاً بين كريم وعمه «أبو فيصل»، يضع القارئ أمام حوار بين جيلين لكل تجربته وتصوراته، فأبو فيصل ينتمي إلى جيل النكسة الذي خسر الأرض الباقية من فلسطين، أما كريم فهو من جيل ناهض من بين حطام الأجيال السابقة، واهوال النكبة والنكسة. يقول له أبو فيصل: عندما وقعنا تحت الاحتلال يا كريم في عام 1967، كنت في هذه القرية أعمل في المزرعة، كنت شاباً وكان لديّ متسع من الوقت لأفكر بالأشياء ككل ريفي. يومها قلت في نفسي: ربما كان اليهود على حق، ربما كانوا افضل منا ويستحقون أن يأخذوا أرضنا، لأننا شعب جاهل.. لذلك راقبتهم عن قرب لوقت طويل، محاولاً التأكد من تفوقهم، لكن في النهاية تبين لي أنهم ليسوا متفوقين علينا، كان بينهم الجيد والسيئ والطيب والاخلاقي والجشع والمقنع، والمتألم.. باختصار نساء ورجال وأطفال مثلنا مثلهم، مخلوقات بشرية، وهذا ما آلمني.
هل أرادت الكاتبة أن تقول لنا إن الجيل القديم من الفلسطينيين، جيل الـ 48، أكثر استعداداً للتعايش مع الإسرائيليين من جيل أطفال الحجارة؟..
تتطور شخصية كريم حين يلتقي بالفتى جندب، الذي كان اخوه معتقلا في احد سجون اسرائيل، لأنه تصدى لمجندة اسرائيلية اهانته على احد الحواجز ورمت هويته في الطين.
والشخصية الأخرى التي كانت عاملاً أساسياً في تطور شخصيته، هي جانيت الفلسطينية المسيحية، التي تستخرج من شخصيته افضل ما فيها، وتوحد في ذاته ما بين الخاص والعام، والذات والموضوع. ونجحت اليزابيث ليرد، في عكس ثراء هذه الشخصيات، وتأثيراتها الايجابية على بعضها بعضا، بالتوازي مع التطورات الحاصلة في عالمهم الخارجي العاصف.
November 3, 2012
This is a middle school story about Karim, his family, and his friends, all Palestinian, facing the roadblocks and bullets of the Israelis. I have read so many books from the perspective of the Israelis. It is important to remember that there is no single story. When countries and people are at war, the innocent always suffer, by all the countries involved in conflict.
Karim's grandparents' land was taken, olive groves and all. Curfews were a daily part of Ramallah, the small town in Palestine where Karim and his family lived. Karim's uncle spoke of truth when Karim spoke of his hatred of the "enemy" as he watched his father being humiliated at a border, and his grandparents were barred from picking olives from their land. "Watching them, I see what we humans are capable of. I know that we could be like them too. They've shown me how bad human nature can be. If we had power over them, or over anyone else, for that matter, we'd do the same things that they do. It's what happens when the conquerors rule the conquered. the powerful hate their victims or they wouldn't be able to bear the thought of what they're doing to them In their eyes we're nothing-inferior, barely human. They can't abide the knowledge that I learned long ago-that we're all the same." These words ring true for me when I think about the evil rulers of empires throughout history.
Karim's uncle also spoke words of wisdom when he said, "Endurance, that's what takes courage. Decency among ourselves. That's where we must be strong. When they steal from us and try to humiliate us, the real shame is on themselves."
American children need to read more global stories in order to discover all of the true stories of war-torn countries and the people who live in constant danger throughout the world. Reading these stories from all perspectives gives students different coming of age stories, those of fear, courage, and in some cases, understanding.
Karim's grandparents' land was taken, olive groves and all. Curfews were a daily part of Ramallah, the small town in Palestine where Karim and his family lived. Karim's uncle spoke of truth when Karim spoke of his hatred of the "enemy" as he watched his father being humiliated at a border, and his grandparents were barred from picking olives from their land. "Watching them, I see what we humans are capable of. I know that we could be like them too. They've shown me how bad human nature can be. If we had power over them, or over anyone else, for that matter, we'd do the same things that they do. It's what happens when the conquerors rule the conquered. the powerful hate their victims or they wouldn't be able to bear the thought of what they're doing to them In their eyes we're nothing-inferior, barely human. They can't abide the knowledge that I learned long ago-that we're all the same." These words ring true for me when I think about the evil rulers of empires throughout history.
Karim's uncle also spoke words of wisdom when he said, "Endurance, that's what takes courage. Decency among ourselves. That's where we must be strong. When they steal from us and try to humiliate us, the real shame is on themselves."
American children need to read more global stories in order to discover all of the true stories of war-torn countries and the people who live in constant danger throughout the world. Reading these stories from all perspectives gives students different coming of age stories, those of fear, courage, and in some cases, understanding.
July 13, 2012
Buku Elizabeth Laird yang ketiga yang saya baca dan tetep aja : sukaaaaa.
Semua buku dia tuh (sejauh yang saya tahu) cerita-ceritanya humanis dan menyentuh hati.
Sungguh sayang rata-rata buku dia under rated di sini.
Berhubung lagi males (errrr....), maka saya mo kasi cuplikan dari buku ini aja. Semoga cuma cuplikan aja, udah bisa membuat anda tertarik membacanya :).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Karim duduk di ujung tempat tidurnya. Kepalanya dikelilingi sekumpulan poster sepak bola yang menempel di dinding. Dahinya mengerut saat membaca selembar kertas di tangan.
Sepuluh hal terbaik yang aku inginkan dalam hidupku, tulisnya, oleh Karim Aboudi, Apartemen Jaffa 15, Ramallah, Palestina.
Di bawahnya, dengan tulisan tangan terbaik, Karim menulis:
1. Pemain sepak bola terbaik di dunia.
2. Keren, populer, ganteng, dengan tinggi minimal 1,90 meter (yang jelas lebih tinggi dari Jamal).
3. Pembebas Palestina dan pahlawan nasional.
4. Pembawa acara televisi dan aktor terkenal (yang penting terkenal).
5. Pencipta game komputer terbaik sepanjang masa.
6. Jadi diri sendiri, bebas melakukan semua yang aku suka tanpa diawasi terus-terusan oleh orangtua, kakak, dan guru-guruku.
7. Penemu formula asam (untuk menghancurkan baja yang digunakan dalam persenjataan, tank, dan helikopter milik Israel).
8. Lebih kuat dari Joni dan teman-temanku yang lain (ini tidak terlalu berlebihan).
Karim berhenti sambil menggigiti ujung bolpoinnya. Dari kejauhan, bunyi sirene ambulans meraung melintasi udara siang. Karim mendongakkan kepala, lalu memandang keluar jendela. Matanya yang besar dan hitam, menatap tajam dari bawah rambut hitam lurus yang membingkai wajahnya yang kurus kecoklatan.
Karim mulai menulis lagi.
9. Hidup. Kalaupun harus tertembak, hanya di bagian-bagian yang bisa disembuhkan, tidak di kepala atau tulang belakang, insya Allah.
10. …
Karim berhenti di nomor sepuluh. Dia memutuskan untuk membiarkannya kosong, siapa tahu ide bagus menclok di kepalanya nanti.
Karim membaca ulang tulisannya sambil duduk dan mengetok-ngetokkan ujung bolpoin ke kerah kemeja wol bergaris-garis, lalu mengambil selembar kertas baru. Kali ini, dengan lebih cepat, dia menulis:
Sepuluh hal yang tidak aku inginkan:
1. Tidak jadi pemilik toko seperti baba.
2. Tidak jadi dokter. Mama terus-terusan maksa aku jadi dokter. Padahal, mama tahu kalau aku benci darah.
3. Tidak pendek.
4. Tidak menikah dengan perempuan seperti Farah.
5. Tidak tertembak di punggung dan duduk di kursi roda seumur hidup seperti salah satu teman sekolahku.
6. Tidak jerawatan seperti Jamal.
7. Tidak dihancur-ratakan (maksudnya rumah kami) oleh tank Israel dan mengungsi ke tenda kumuh.
8. Tidak harus sekolah.
9. Tidak hidup dalam penjajahan. Tidak dicekal terus-terusan oleh tentara Israel. Tidak takut. Tidak terjebak di dalam rumah atau gedung.
10. Tidak mati.
Karim membaca ulang tulisannya. Seperti ada yang kurang. Dia yakin, ada yang terlupakan.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tokoh utama di buku ini adalah Karim Aboudi, seorang anak Palestina biasa yang tinggal di Ramallah, yang saat itu sedang dalam pendudukan Israel.
Walopun tinggal di daerah konflik, Karim mempunyai mimpi layaknya anak-anak lain. Dia juga berusaha menjalani hari-harinya senormal mungkin.
Nantinya, diceritakan tentara Israel memberlakukan jam malam. Saat diberlakukan jam malam itu, Karim terjebak di dalam sebuah mobil tua yang berada di "a little piece of ground" ato sebidang tanah kecil yang biasa jadi tempat dia bermain bola. Saat dia berusaha melarikan diri dari situ untuk sampai ke rumahnya, dia tertembak.
Seperti yang dia harapkan, dia gak tertembak di bagian vital. Dia tertembak di bagian kaki dan kakaknya Jamal berhasil membawanya ke rumah sakit. Di bawah ini adalah kutipan lain dari buku yang sama (hal. 264-265)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“Pagi yang luar biasa panjang merangkak pelan. Terkadang, Karim berusaha tidur, tapi tidak pernah berhasil. Dia mencoba membuat permainan baru, merangkai cerita, dan melamun. Saat itu, dia teringat kembali pada daftar yang dibuatnya, pada segala hal yang ingin dia lakukan dalam hidupnya. Kapankah itu, beberapa minggu yang lalu? Tapi rasanya paling sedikit seperti setahun yang lalu. Karim coba mengingat-ingat apa saja yang telah ditulisnya.
Semua itu, pikirnya, semua yang pernah kuimpikan – membebaskan Palestina, menjadi pemain bola, menciptakan game computer, menjadi penemu – semuanya sampah.
Karim ingat, daftar itu belum selesai. Ada satu lagi yang perlu ditambahkan agar bisa lengkap jadi sepuluh. Sekarang dia tahu. Setelah mengalami semua kejadian ini, cuma ada satu hal yang paling dia inginkan.
Menjadi orang biasa, gumam Karim. Hidup sebagai orang biasa di negeri biasa. Di negeri Palestina yang merdeka. Tapi itu nggak bakal berhasil. Mereka nggak bakal memberikan apa yang menjadi hak kami.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
Dan tidakkah kamu bersyukur, tinggal di negara yang merdeka?
Dimana kamu bebas keluar malam, bebas merancang mimpimu setinggi langit dan bebas berpendapat?
Tidakkah kamu bersyukur hidup sebagai orang biasa di negeri biasa?
” Dan nikmat Tuhanmu yang manakah yang kamu dustakan?”
(QS Ar-Rahmaan)
Semua buku dia tuh (sejauh yang saya tahu) cerita-ceritanya humanis dan menyentuh hati.
Sungguh sayang rata-rata buku dia under rated di sini.
Berhubung lagi males (errrr....), maka saya mo kasi cuplikan dari buku ini aja. Semoga cuma cuplikan aja, udah bisa membuat anda tertarik membacanya :).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Karim duduk di ujung tempat tidurnya. Kepalanya dikelilingi sekumpulan poster sepak bola yang menempel di dinding. Dahinya mengerut saat membaca selembar kertas di tangan.
Sepuluh hal terbaik yang aku inginkan dalam hidupku, tulisnya, oleh Karim Aboudi, Apartemen Jaffa 15, Ramallah, Palestina.
Di bawahnya, dengan tulisan tangan terbaik, Karim menulis:
1. Pemain sepak bola terbaik di dunia.
2. Keren, populer, ganteng, dengan tinggi minimal 1,90 meter (yang jelas lebih tinggi dari Jamal).
3. Pembebas Palestina dan pahlawan nasional.
4. Pembawa acara televisi dan aktor terkenal (yang penting terkenal).
5. Pencipta game komputer terbaik sepanjang masa.
6. Jadi diri sendiri, bebas melakukan semua yang aku suka tanpa diawasi terus-terusan oleh orangtua, kakak, dan guru-guruku.
7. Penemu formula asam (untuk menghancurkan baja yang digunakan dalam persenjataan, tank, dan helikopter milik Israel).
8. Lebih kuat dari Joni dan teman-temanku yang lain (ini tidak terlalu berlebihan).
Karim berhenti sambil menggigiti ujung bolpoinnya. Dari kejauhan, bunyi sirene ambulans meraung melintasi udara siang. Karim mendongakkan kepala, lalu memandang keluar jendela. Matanya yang besar dan hitam, menatap tajam dari bawah rambut hitam lurus yang membingkai wajahnya yang kurus kecoklatan.
Karim mulai menulis lagi.
9. Hidup. Kalaupun harus tertembak, hanya di bagian-bagian yang bisa disembuhkan, tidak di kepala atau tulang belakang, insya Allah.
10. …
Karim berhenti di nomor sepuluh. Dia memutuskan untuk membiarkannya kosong, siapa tahu ide bagus menclok di kepalanya nanti.
Karim membaca ulang tulisannya sambil duduk dan mengetok-ngetokkan ujung bolpoin ke kerah kemeja wol bergaris-garis, lalu mengambil selembar kertas baru. Kali ini, dengan lebih cepat, dia menulis:
Sepuluh hal yang tidak aku inginkan:
1. Tidak jadi pemilik toko seperti baba.
2. Tidak jadi dokter. Mama terus-terusan maksa aku jadi dokter. Padahal, mama tahu kalau aku benci darah.
3. Tidak pendek.
4. Tidak menikah dengan perempuan seperti Farah.
5. Tidak tertembak di punggung dan duduk di kursi roda seumur hidup seperti salah satu teman sekolahku.
6. Tidak jerawatan seperti Jamal.
7. Tidak dihancur-ratakan (maksudnya rumah kami) oleh tank Israel dan mengungsi ke tenda kumuh.
8. Tidak harus sekolah.
9. Tidak hidup dalam penjajahan. Tidak dicekal terus-terusan oleh tentara Israel. Tidak takut. Tidak terjebak di dalam rumah atau gedung.
10. Tidak mati.
Karim membaca ulang tulisannya. Seperti ada yang kurang. Dia yakin, ada yang terlupakan.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tokoh utama di buku ini adalah Karim Aboudi, seorang anak Palestina biasa yang tinggal di Ramallah, yang saat itu sedang dalam pendudukan Israel.
Walopun tinggal di daerah konflik, Karim mempunyai mimpi layaknya anak-anak lain. Dia juga berusaha menjalani hari-harinya senormal mungkin.
Nantinya, diceritakan tentara Israel memberlakukan jam malam. Saat diberlakukan jam malam itu, Karim terjebak di dalam sebuah mobil tua yang berada di "a little piece of ground" ato sebidang tanah kecil yang biasa jadi tempat dia bermain bola. Saat dia berusaha melarikan diri dari situ untuk sampai ke rumahnya, dia tertembak.
Seperti yang dia harapkan, dia gak tertembak di bagian vital. Dia tertembak di bagian kaki dan kakaknya Jamal berhasil membawanya ke rumah sakit. Di bawah ini adalah kutipan lain dari buku yang sama (hal. 264-265)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“Pagi yang luar biasa panjang merangkak pelan. Terkadang, Karim berusaha tidur, tapi tidak pernah berhasil. Dia mencoba membuat permainan baru, merangkai cerita, dan melamun. Saat itu, dia teringat kembali pada daftar yang dibuatnya, pada segala hal yang ingin dia lakukan dalam hidupnya. Kapankah itu, beberapa minggu yang lalu? Tapi rasanya paling sedikit seperti setahun yang lalu. Karim coba mengingat-ingat apa saja yang telah ditulisnya.
Semua itu, pikirnya, semua yang pernah kuimpikan – membebaskan Palestina, menjadi pemain bola, menciptakan game computer, menjadi penemu – semuanya sampah.
Karim ingat, daftar itu belum selesai. Ada satu lagi yang perlu ditambahkan agar bisa lengkap jadi sepuluh. Sekarang dia tahu. Setelah mengalami semua kejadian ini, cuma ada satu hal yang paling dia inginkan.
Menjadi orang biasa, gumam Karim. Hidup sebagai orang biasa di negeri biasa. Di negeri Palestina yang merdeka. Tapi itu nggak bakal berhasil. Mereka nggak bakal memberikan apa yang menjadi hak kami.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
Dan tidakkah kamu bersyukur, tinggal di negara yang merdeka?
Dimana kamu bebas keluar malam, bebas merancang mimpimu setinggi langit dan bebas berpendapat?
Tidakkah kamu bersyukur hidup sebagai orang biasa di negeri biasa?
” Dan nikmat Tuhanmu yang manakah yang kamu dustakan?”
(QS Ar-Rahmaan)
July 28, 2013
It is difficult to talk about Palestine and Israel with out being polemical. The conversation often falls into policy, politics and history that maintains an impossible place of resolution for many.
Laird paints a picture of occupation that is both relevant and frustrating. Her story holds a human element that often gets lost in ideology and politics.
Laird walks her audience through exhaustive curfews inflicted on Ramallah, Palestinians by the Israelis through Karim, a twelve year old boy protagonist. Karim's teeth begin to itch after two weeks of being detained in his home. His aching for life beyond his home is expressed as he and his siblings find small ways to antagonize one another and his inability to concentrate. The curfew creates further tension in the home as his parents are unable to work during this time and their children are not in school. Small little details like this began to work on my imagination. As I read the book, I realized how much I had neglected to think about the day to day life of those living in places like Ramallah and Bethlehem.
The choice to use a twelve year old boy as the protagonist worked well. Laird proved to be highly adept at characterization. Karim was neither precocious or overly adult. Instead, he read like a twelve year old boy looking to be free (hurriyah) to play with his friends. Karim still holds a youthful admiration of his father, that time where his father is still a bit of a hero. But he is forced to reconcile his father's limitations as he watches his father suffer under the fear and anger of the young Israeli soldiers and settlers who inflict humiliation and fear on the Palestinians.
What I appreciated most about Laird is her willingness to nod at the complexity of the issue in this region. While it would have been easy to show the Israeli soldiers as unilaterally violent and ruthless, Laird takes time to paint a human face on those occupying Palestine. Yet, there can be no question that Laird is clearly sympathetic to those being placed under curfew and whose land is often boldly taken with impunity. Despite this, she points to a young soldiers shaking hand from fear and seeing his brother's face in that of a young soldier who was feeding a stray cat after having taken siege Karim's soccer field.
It is the human face at every angle that left me feeling a deep sense of tragedy for the conditions that exist in this region. After all the political and historical conversation settles like dust, there are the human lives that are left in the wreckage of battle. There are people searching for the simple routine of a day and the ability to simply live their lives on their terms, like all of us.
As I read this book, I was reminded of Steinbeck's The Moon is Down . While his prose are a bit more smooth, the focus on occupied people looking to push out the perceived oppressor is the same.
A good book for all ages. I think it could easily be read in a fifth grade class with a teacher skilled at helping students discuss nuanced and challenging ideas about human nature and politics.
Laird paints a picture of occupation that is both relevant and frustrating. Her story holds a human element that often gets lost in ideology and politics.
Laird walks her audience through exhaustive curfews inflicted on Ramallah, Palestinians by the Israelis through Karim, a twelve year old boy protagonist. Karim's teeth begin to itch after two weeks of being detained in his home. His aching for life beyond his home is expressed as he and his siblings find small ways to antagonize one another and his inability to concentrate. The curfew creates further tension in the home as his parents are unable to work during this time and their children are not in school. Small little details like this began to work on my imagination. As I read the book, I realized how much I had neglected to think about the day to day life of those living in places like Ramallah and Bethlehem.
The choice to use a twelve year old boy as the protagonist worked well. Laird proved to be highly adept at characterization. Karim was neither precocious or overly adult. Instead, he read like a twelve year old boy looking to be free (hurriyah) to play with his friends. Karim still holds a youthful admiration of his father, that time where his father is still a bit of a hero. But he is forced to reconcile his father's limitations as he watches his father suffer under the fear and anger of the young Israeli soldiers and settlers who inflict humiliation and fear on the Palestinians.
What I appreciated most about Laird is her willingness to nod at the complexity of the issue in this region. While it would have been easy to show the Israeli soldiers as unilaterally violent and ruthless, Laird takes time to paint a human face on those occupying Palestine. Yet, there can be no question that Laird is clearly sympathetic to those being placed under curfew and whose land is often boldly taken with impunity. Despite this, she points to a young soldiers shaking hand from fear and seeing his brother's face in that of a young soldier who was feeding a stray cat after having taken siege Karim's soccer field.
It is the human face at every angle that left me feeling a deep sense of tragedy for the conditions that exist in this region. After all the political and historical conversation settles like dust, there are the human lives that are left in the wreckage of battle. There are people searching for the simple routine of a day and the ability to simply live their lives on their terms, like all of us.
As I read this book, I was reminded of Steinbeck's The Moon is Down . While his prose are a bit more smooth, the focus on occupied people looking to push out the perceived oppressor is the same.
A good book for all ages. I think it could easily be read in a fifth grade class with a teacher skilled at helping students discuss nuanced and challenging ideas about human nature and politics.
February 26, 2015
I picked this up because it's about Palestinians and soccer, both topics I have an interest in. However, I was a little leery of it being a book pitched at teenage readers -- I was worried that it would either be too simplistic, or didactic, or mawkish. Fortunately, it is none of those things -- rather, it is a nuanced story with a Palestinian boy at its center that any reader can relate to.
Karim is a pretty typical 12-year: obsessed with soccer and video games, constantly annoyed by his younger sister and older brother, and chafing at life under constant threat of military occupation and curfew in Ramallah. The story follows his new friendship with a refugee boy in parallel with his close friendship with a Christian schoolmate. Their antics are both entirely plausible, and utterly chilling in the stakes that are involved. What the book does best of all is portray the difficulty of trying to live a normal life, let alone build a future, in a place where an outsider's tanks might roll down the streets and destroy your school at any moment. To be sure, I suppose most would consider this a "pro-Palestinian" story -- but it's really a pro-humanity story.
Karim is a pretty typical 12-year: obsessed with soccer and video games, constantly annoyed by his younger sister and older brother, and chafing at life under constant threat of military occupation and curfew in Ramallah. The story follows his new friendship with a refugee boy in parallel with his close friendship with a Christian schoolmate. Their antics are both entirely plausible, and utterly chilling in the stakes that are involved. What the book does best of all is portray the difficulty of trying to live a normal life, let alone build a future, in a place where an outsider's tanks might roll down the streets and destroy your school at any moment. To be sure, I suppose most would consider this a "pro-Palestinian" story -- but it's really a pro-humanity story.
July 23, 2020
پنج ستاره کامل از طرف نوجوون درونم
کتاب به خوبی خواننده رو با خودش همراه می کنه
ترس کریم ترس به دلم انداخت خوشحالیش از کارای هوپر خوشحالم کرد حتی با فوتبال بازی کردناش همراه شدم
مطمینن دفعه دیگه که اخبار خبری از فلسطین نشون بده بیش تر از همیشه قلبم به درد بیاد و بیشتر از همیشه دقت کنم ک داره چ اتفاقی می افته
ادم از ی رمان خوب دیگه چی میخواد ؟
کتاب به خوبی خواننده رو با خودش همراه می کنه
ترس کریم ترس به دلم انداخت خوشحالیش از کارای هوپر خوشحالم کرد حتی با فوتبال بازی کردناش همراه شدم
مطمینن دفعه دیگه که اخبار خبری از فلسطین نشون بده بیش تر از همیشه قلبم به درد بیاد و بیشتر از همیشه دقت کنم ک داره چ اتفاقی می افته
ادم از ی رمان خوب دیگه چی میخواد ؟
January 27, 2025
I brought this book because it was banned in America because it was deemed "antisemitic", when we all know by now, that's the word they use for anything they don't like now. Despite antisemitism being real for many people.
So Elizabeth writes for children and teenagers, and this book is as real as it comes for a fictionalised story. Karim's story is nothing new to us, but whilst reading this, I kept thinking, what emotions and thoughts would a teenager have reading this book. And a few came to mind, eye opening, distressing, unjust, and possibly anger. Would I want my teenager reading this I thought for a second no because of how upsetting the story would be for someone who's young and might not know, but then I remembered how formative those years are and how important it is to educate the world on the truth and the answer would he yes.
So Elizabeth writes for children and teenagers, and this book is as real as it comes for a fictionalised story. Karim's story is nothing new to us, but whilst reading this, I kept thinking, what emotions and thoughts would a teenager have reading this book. And a few came to mind, eye opening, distressing, unjust, and possibly anger. Would I want my teenager reading this I thought for a second no because of how upsetting the story would be for someone who's young and might not know, but then I remembered how formative those years are and how important it is to educate the world on the truth and the answer would he yes.
December 11, 2019
یک تکه زمین کوچک. کتاب در مورد نوجوونی فلسطینیه که هیچی نمیخواد فقط میخواد زندگی کنه میخواد زنده بمونه. میخواد اگه بهش تیر میخوره به جایی تیر بخوره که نکشتش. یه تیکه زمین میخواد که بتونه توش فوتبال بازی کنه. این کتاب برای نوجوانه اما غم عمیشق دل هر بزرگسالی رو به درد میاره. یه جاهایی از کتاب فکر میکردم کنار کریم وایسادم و دارم ترسش از نرسیدن به آرزوهاشو میبینم. با خوندن این کتاب مدام تصویر کودکانی جنگ زده و اخبار بی رحمی که این کودکا رو تو خون و خاک نشون میده جلوی چشمم بود. یاد جنگ ایران افتادم اوایل دهه شصت ماهم خیلی از کودکامون رو مثل کریم قربانی دفاع از کشورمون کردیم. کودکانی که با سن کمشون رفتن از مرزها دفاع کنن. به نظرم بی رحمانه ترین بخش جنگ، کشتن آرزوهای کودکانه. تبدیل کردن پروانه های دلشون به بمب و خمپاره. جنگ کثیفه و با خودش بدبختی میاره تو هر شرایط و مکان و زمانی.
December 4, 2022
«زیست روزمرۀ کودکان و نوجوانان در وضعیت جنگی و اشغال شهر»
کریم نوجوان دوازدهسالۀ فلسطینیست که با والدین، برادر بزرگتر و دو خواهر کوچکترش در رامالله زندگی میکند. تمام زندگی روزمرۀ او در گرو حکومت نظامی اسرائیلیهاست. مادامیکه حکومت نظامی اعلام شود، آنها حق تردد ندارند. خواه در مدرسه باشند یا در بیمارستان.
کریم عاشق فوتبال است او با دو دوست مسیحیاش به اسم جانی و هوپر تکهزمین بایر و کوچکی را به دور از چشم سربازان اسرائیلی برای خود تبدیل به زمین فوتبال میکنند اما لاجرم -با دستان خالیشان- با سربازان اسرائیلی مواجهه پیدا میکنند.
این در حالیست که اسرائیلیها باغهای زیتون خانوادۀ عبودی (خانوادۀ کریم) در در روستا را بهزور از چنگ آنان درآوردهاند و برادر هوپر (سلیم) هم در زندان اسرائیلیها اسیر است.
صفحۀ ۲۷۹ با صفحۀ ۲۷۳ مغایرت داشت. در صفحۀ ۲۷۳ آمده که هوپر از گلولهخوردن کریم اطلاع دارد و از بابت ابراز نگرانی میکند اما در صفحۀ ۲۷۹ جانی به کریم میگوید هوپر از زخمیشدن او باخبر نبود و دقایقی قبل از جانی شنیده است.
کریم نوجوان دوازدهسالۀ فلسطینیست که با والدین، برادر بزرگتر و دو خواهر کوچکترش در رامالله زندگی میکند. تمام زندگی روزمرۀ او در گرو حکومت نظامی اسرائیلیهاست. مادامیکه حکومت نظامی اعلام شود، آنها حق تردد ندارند. خواه در مدرسه باشند یا در بیمارستان.
کریم عاشق فوتبال است او با دو دوست مسیحیاش به اسم جانی و هوپر تکهزمین بایر و کوچکی را به دور از چشم سربازان اسرائیلی برای خود تبدیل به زمین فوتبال میکنند اما لاجرم -با دستان خالیشان- با سربازان اسرائیلی مواجهه پیدا میکنند.
این در حالیست که اسرائیلیها باغهای زیتون خانوادۀ عبودی (خانوادۀ کریم) در در روستا را بهزور از چنگ آنان درآوردهاند و برادر هوپر (سلیم) هم در زندان اسرائیلیها اسیر است.
صفحۀ ۲۷۹ با صفحۀ ۲۷۳ مغایرت داشت. در صفحۀ ۲۷۳ آمده که هوپر از گلولهخوردن کریم اطلاع دارد و از بابت ابراز نگرانی میکند اما در صفحۀ ۲۷۹ جانی به کریم میگوید هوپر از زخمیشدن او باخبر نبود و دقایقی قبل از جانی شنیده است.
March 11, 2016
The topic covered by this book, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, is a very important and interesting, but it was presented in a very biased way. It over exaggerated the oppression which Palestinians face and it failed to mention to actions by Palestinians that caused a lot of these actions which are portrayed as ‘oppression’. I found it hard to get into this book knowing that this was not so accurate. I also thought that the quality of writing was very poor. I think that there are probably much more accurate and much better accounts of this conflict out these which should be read instead of this.
January 10, 2015
رواية جميلة تصف واقعنا الفلسطيني ..
May 31, 2025
در فلسطین زندگی جریان دارد... کریم مثل همه نوجوانهای دنیا هر روز با بردار بزرگترش سر نوبت بازی کامپیوتری دعوا میکند، از دست شیطنتهای خواهر کوچکش کلافه میشود، نگران درس و مشقش است، باید پول تو جیبیاش را مدیریت کند و... فقط یک فرق کوچک دارد، مهمترین و اولین دغدغه او این است که زنده بماند...
یک تکه زمین کوچک داستان نوجوانیفلسطینیست با رویایی از جنس فوتبال با چالشهایی فلسطینی، بله در فلسطین مثل ایران زمین هموار زیادی برای فوتبال وجود ندارد و کریم باید زمین فوتبالش را خودش بسازد و خب این در زیر فشار صهیونیستها کار سادهای نیست...
.
برشی از متن کتاب:
کمی پایینتر با بهترین دستخطش نوشت... ۱۰ تا از بهترین چیزهایی که در آینده میخوام انجام بدهم (یا بشم):
۱. بهترین فوتبالیست دنیا
۲. یه پسر خیلی باحال و محبوب و خوشطیپ با قد یک متر و ۹۰ سانت
۲. نجاتدهنده فلسطین و قهرمان ملی
۴. بزرگترین طراح بازی های رایانهای
.
.
۹. زنده بمونم، حتی اگه قراره گلولهای بهم بخوره به جایی بخوره که خوبشدنی باشه...
۱۰.
شماره ۱۰ را خالی گذاشت که اگر در آینده چیزی به ذهنش رسید بنویسد...
یک تکه زمین کوچک داستان نوجوانیفلسطینیست با رویایی از جنس فوتبال با چالشهایی فلسطینی، بله در فلسطین مثل ایران زمین هموار زیادی برای فوتبال وجود ندارد و کریم باید زمین فوتبالش را خودش بسازد و خب این در زیر فشار صهیونیستها کار سادهای نیست...
.
برشی از متن کتاب:
کمی پایینتر با بهترین دستخطش نوشت... ۱۰ تا از بهترین چیزهایی که در آینده میخوام انجام بدهم (یا بشم):
۱. بهترین فوتبالیست دنیا
۲. یه پسر خیلی باحال و محبوب و خوشطیپ با قد یک متر و ۹۰ سانت
۲. نجاتدهنده فلسطین و قهرمان ملی
۴. بزرگترین طراح بازی های رایانهای
.
.
۹. زنده بمونم، حتی اگه قراره گلولهای بهم بخوره به جایی بخوره که خوبشدنی باشه...
۱۰.
شماره ۱۰ را خالی گذاشت که اگر در آینده چیزی به ذهنش رسید بنویسد...
March 27, 2024
4.5 stars ✨
This story is incredible however the writing did demotivate me from fully enjoying it.
This story is incredible however the writing did demotivate me from fully enjoying it.
December 28, 2022
یک رمان نوجوان خیلی خیلی خوب و خوش خوان.
June 28, 2015
I can’t remember the last time I read something that offered me such a different perspective than the one I am used to hearing about. I don’t know this is something typical of most people in the United States due to media coverage, or whether it’s more personal because I know more Jews than Muslims, but the plight of the Palestinians has never really been something I knew very much about. You hear the news reports of bombings, the words West Bank and Gaza Strip, but I personally was ignorant about what life was like for Palestinians and I expect many readers in the target age group are as well.
Karim and his family live in Ramallah, a city which is frequently subjected to tight curfew. The book opens with all of the families completely trapped within their homes while Israel tanks patrol nearby. When everyone is finally given an hour outside, people rush to buy food and medicine for loved ones. School is rarely in session; students pick up work to complete at home, at first due to the restrictions about leaving their homes and later because their school has been destroyed. Karim longs for some normalcy, hanging out with his friends, playing soccer, things that many kids are liable to take for granted. One day he meets a classmate on the outskirts of town by the refugee camps and they begin clearing rubble to make a place of their own. But their days of freedom are short-lived as tanks roll back in imposing another curfew. Karim does not make it back home in time and must hide, waiting and hoping he will be able to safely make his way back home.
For a book that deals with children leading an almost unthinkable life, A Little Piece of Ground manages to convey the gravity of the situation without resorting to graphic violence or sensationalism. Laird shows the psychological effects that living in an occupied zone has on both children and adults. The only thing that was very difficult for me were the parts where Karim rejoices in Israeli deaths, talks about how suicide bombers are martyrs and where people shout Death to Israel. These are hard things because this is how the news often depicts Palestinians, fervent, violent, jubilant at the deaths of their enemies. But I think Laird manages to show why Karim and his brother might feel this way. I also think it’s important for kids to consider why during violent and longstanding conflicts like this people sometimes find themselves unable to just wish for peace.
For age recommendation and all possibly objectionable content see full blog post: http://bit.ly/1Lztz1z
Karim and his family live in Ramallah, a city which is frequently subjected to tight curfew. The book opens with all of the families completely trapped within their homes while Israel tanks patrol nearby. When everyone is finally given an hour outside, people rush to buy food and medicine for loved ones. School is rarely in session; students pick up work to complete at home, at first due to the restrictions about leaving their homes and later because their school has been destroyed. Karim longs for some normalcy, hanging out with his friends, playing soccer, things that many kids are liable to take for granted. One day he meets a classmate on the outskirts of town by the refugee camps and they begin clearing rubble to make a place of their own. But their days of freedom are short-lived as tanks roll back in imposing another curfew. Karim does not make it back home in time and must hide, waiting and hoping he will be able to safely make his way back home.
For a book that deals with children leading an almost unthinkable life, A Little Piece of Ground manages to convey the gravity of the situation without resorting to graphic violence or sensationalism. Laird shows the psychological effects that living in an occupied zone has on both children and adults. The only thing that was very difficult for me were the parts where Karim rejoices in Israeli deaths, talks about how suicide bombers are martyrs and where people shout Death to Israel. These are hard things because this is how the news often depicts Palestinians, fervent, violent, jubilant at the deaths of their enemies. But I think Laird manages to show why Karim and his brother might feel this way. I also think it’s important for kids to consider why during violent and longstanding conflicts like this people sometimes find themselves unable to just wish for peace.
For age recommendation and all possibly objectionable content see full blog post: http://bit.ly/1Lztz1z
July 26, 2010
Protagonist: Karim, 12
Grade Level: 7-10
This book is about Karim, a twelve-year-old Palestinian boy living in Ramallah during the Israeli occupation. Karim’s number one love in life is soccer. When he meets a boy named Hopper he stumbles on the perfect place to create a soccer field – an abandoned lot filled with rubble. Hopper, a boy living in the refugee camp, Karim, and Karim’s best friend Joni (a boy from a Christian family) decide to work on the lot to make it into a soccer field, and more importantly, into somewhere they could call their own. Ramallah is under Israeli curfew and becomes incredibly tense when Karim is trapped in the lot past curfew with no way out. This incredible story about life from the eyes of a Palestinian is powerful and realistic. It is a perspective that deserves attention and discussion.
Elizabeth Laird does a great job of developing realistic characters. I liked that Karim developed a lot of anger and hatred for the Israelis. It is only natural that would happen, and I am glad she didn’t hold back. It was also a nice combination to have the perspectives of a boy living in the refugee camps compared to Jani – a Christian boy, who’s family eventually left Ramallah. I think it’s important to show how diverse Palestinians are and how the Israeli occupation affected people in different ways. I am so fascinated by the conflict between Israel and Palestine so it was an enjoyable book for me to read. If I were a middle school or high school teacher I would love to read this book with something written from the Israeli perspective. It is really easy to take sides when you hear just one side of the argument, but it would an interesting discussion to try to figure out a way to make it right, or solve the conflict. Some other books that could go well with this one are Habibi, by Naomi Shihab Nye, Tasting the Sky: A Palestinian Childhood, byIbtisam Barakat, or Three Wishes: Palestinian and Israeli Children Speak, by Deborah Ellis. Also, there are plenty of other times in world history that one country has occupied another, and I think it could be worthwhile to read other accounts similar situations to compare experiences, precipitating events, and discuss why this is such a recurring theme in world history.
Grade Level: 7-10
This book is about Karim, a twelve-year-old Palestinian boy living in Ramallah during the Israeli occupation. Karim’s number one love in life is soccer. When he meets a boy named Hopper he stumbles on the perfect place to create a soccer field – an abandoned lot filled with rubble. Hopper, a boy living in the refugee camp, Karim, and Karim’s best friend Joni (a boy from a Christian family) decide to work on the lot to make it into a soccer field, and more importantly, into somewhere they could call their own. Ramallah is under Israeli curfew and becomes incredibly tense when Karim is trapped in the lot past curfew with no way out. This incredible story about life from the eyes of a Palestinian is powerful and realistic. It is a perspective that deserves attention and discussion.
Elizabeth Laird does a great job of developing realistic characters. I liked that Karim developed a lot of anger and hatred for the Israelis. It is only natural that would happen, and I am glad she didn’t hold back. It was also a nice combination to have the perspectives of a boy living in the refugee camps compared to Jani – a Christian boy, who’s family eventually left Ramallah. I think it’s important to show how diverse Palestinians are and how the Israeli occupation affected people in different ways. I am so fascinated by the conflict between Israel and Palestine so it was an enjoyable book for me to read. If I were a middle school or high school teacher I would love to read this book with something written from the Israeli perspective. It is really easy to take sides when you hear just one side of the argument, but it would an interesting discussion to try to figure out a way to make it right, or solve the conflict. Some other books that could go well with this one are Habibi, by Naomi Shihab Nye, Tasting the Sky: A Palestinian Childhood, byIbtisam Barakat, or Three Wishes: Palestinian and Israeli Children Speak, by Deborah Ellis. Also, there are plenty of other times in world history that one country has occupied another, and I think it could be worthwhile to read other accounts similar situations to compare experiences, precipitating events, and discuss why this is such a recurring theme in world history.
November 25, 2008
Boys will be boys, even in Israel-occupied Ramallah. In the days when Israeli tanks enforced long curfews that keep him cooped up at home with his bullying brother Jamal, his obnoxious sister Farah, piles of homework from school that keeps getting disrupted, and news of skirmishes, death and injuries on TV, Karim dreams of becoming world-class footballer, a successful businessman, and inventor of special acids to destroy the Israeli barbed wire fence.
But, as his uncle Abu Feisal said, in the night after their brush with Israeli forces that shot at them when they came to pick olives from groves that had been owned by the family for hundreds of years, life is not that simple. Karim's meeting with Hopper, a boy from the refugee camp, and later, their crusade to carve out a niche of their own, will teach him that life, and heroism, is anything but simple.
While the book bluntly delineates the kind of terror, frustration, fear and boiling rage that comes with living under an occupation, it also manages to delicately discuss the issue of hatred, enmity, and ultimately courage and martyrdom, while giving the readers a candid glimpses of how life goes on, and children grows, even in the most atrocious of circumstances.
I am fascinated by the dialogs in this book. In my opinion Laird had managed to capture the way Middle-eastern people speak amongst themselves, rapidly, with fierce emotions, and equally fierce love.
But, as his uncle Abu Feisal said, in the night after their brush with Israeli forces that shot at them when they came to pick olives from groves that had been owned by the family for hundreds of years, life is not that simple. Karim's meeting with Hopper, a boy from the refugee camp, and later, their crusade to carve out a niche of their own, will teach him that life, and heroism, is anything but simple.
While the book bluntly delineates the kind of terror, frustration, fear and boiling rage that comes with living under an occupation, it also manages to delicately discuss the issue of hatred, enmity, and ultimately courage and martyrdom, while giving the readers a candid glimpses of how life goes on, and children grows, even in the most atrocious of circumstances.
I am fascinated by the dialogs in this book. In my opinion Laird had managed to capture the way Middle-eastern people speak amongst themselves, rapidly, with fierce emotions, and equally fierce love.
July 13, 2020
I really like this book, but that doesn't mean I liked what happened in it was disgusting.
In this book the protagonist is a little boy called Karim and he's 12 years old and he's living through the time of war in Palestine the Israelis have taken over his country and have separated the land. Every three days or should I say three or four days there is a curfew where everyone in that area is allowed out for two hours in that two hours karim does nothing but football with his best friend Joni.
a little piece of ground gently introduces what's happening in Palestine at the moment to younger readers and it's put in as nice as it possibly can but even at its best, it's still horrible.
Karim meet a friend called hopper and him hopper and Joni make a little piece of ground to play football in. They visit there every day but one day they stayed past curfew and the tanks came rolling in They took over the area. a hopper was shot up the leg journey managed to getaway but Karim was unfortunately trapped under some boulders he stayed under those boulders hiding for three whole days cleverly falling the Israeli soldiers when the Israeli soldiers moved out for the curfew and when the curfew was lifted he came out but what he didn't know was that there were snipers on top of the building he started running he got shot down that he got shot down the leg and Luckily his brother his older brother Jamal was that to bring him into the hospital.
In this book the protagonist is a little boy called Karim and he's 12 years old and he's living through the time of war in Palestine the Israelis have taken over his country and have separated the land. Every three days or should I say three or four days there is a curfew where everyone in that area is allowed out for two hours in that two hours karim does nothing but football with his best friend Joni.
a little piece of ground gently introduces what's happening in Palestine at the moment to younger readers and it's put in as nice as it possibly can but even at its best, it's still horrible.
Karim meet a friend called hopper and him hopper and Joni make a little piece of ground to play football in. They visit there every day but one day they stayed past curfew and the tanks came rolling in They took over the area. a hopper was shot up the leg journey managed to getaway but Karim was unfortunately trapped under some boulders he stayed under those boulders hiding for three whole days cleverly falling the Israeli soldiers when the Israeli soldiers moved out for the curfew and when the curfew was lifted he came out but what he didn't know was that there were snipers on top of the building he started running he got shot down that he got shot down the leg and Luckily his brother his older brother Jamal was that to bring him into the hospital.
March 11, 2016
A Little Piece of Ground was a terrible book. I would highly recommend that you do not read this book. There is no plot and it is awful.
March 12, 2022
من اكثر الكتب التي استمتعت بقراتها،الاحداث والشخصيات كلها طبيعية،وبتمثل الواقع الذي يعيشه الفلسطينين.
ومع كل فصل بيزداد عنصرا التوتر والتشويق،والقلق من أن يحصل شيء لكريم .
ومن أكثر المشاهد التي اعجبتني مشهد كريم والعم فيصل،وبالتاكيد هناك الكثير من المشاهد الجميلة والمشوقة.
-بشر؟هل يمكن تصنيف هؤلاء المستوطنين ضمن بني البشر؟
-نعم،بشر مثلنا،وهذا ما يزيد من حزني وكآبتي.فكلما راقبتهم ادركت كم يمكن لنا نحن البشر أن نكون قساة.انا أدرك أنه يمكن لنا أن نكون مثلهم.لفد فتحوا عيني على طبيعة النفس البشرية وخباياها.ربما لو كنا نملك قوتهم،وكنا نتفوق عليهم أو على شعب آخر،كنا سنفعل مثلهم.هذا نموذج لما هو عليه الحال عندما يحكم الغازي شعبا ضعيفا.صاحب النفوذ والقوة لا بد أن يكره ضحيته حتى يتمكن من العيش دون احساس بالذنب أو صحوة الضمير.نحن لا شيء بنظرهم،نحن شيء لا يرقى إلى مستوى البشر تماما،ونحن كلنا متشابهون بنظرهم.
ومع كل فصل بيزداد عنصرا التوتر والتشويق،والقلق من أن يحصل شيء لكريم .
ومن أكثر المشاهد التي اعجبتني مشهد كريم والعم فيصل،وبالتاكيد هناك الكثير من المشاهد الجميلة والمشوقة.
-بشر؟هل يمكن تصنيف هؤلاء المستوطنين ضمن بني البشر؟
-نعم،بشر مثلنا،وهذا ما يزيد من حزني وكآبتي.فكلما راقبتهم ادركت كم يمكن لنا نحن البشر أن نكون قساة.انا أدرك أنه يمكن لنا أن نكون مثلهم.لفد فتحوا عيني على طبيعة النفس البشرية وخباياها.ربما لو كنا نملك قوتهم،وكنا نتفوق عليهم أو على شعب آخر،كنا سنفعل مثلهم.هذا نموذج لما هو عليه الحال عندما يحكم الغازي شعبا ضعيفا.صاحب النفوذ والقوة لا بد أن يكره ضحيته حتى يتمكن من العيش دون احساس بالذنب أو صحوة الضمير.نحن لا شيء بنظرهم،نحن شيء لا يرقى إلى مستوى البشر تماما،ونحن كلنا متشابهون بنظرهم.
April 21, 2024
If you are looking for a timely read to make sense of all that is happening in Palestine right now, this book is it. It follows the story of an endearing 12 year old boy in Ramallah. The book paints a vivid picture of the brutal occupation and how children still resist and survive with beautiful courage and hope.
Read
May 27, 2013A boy called Karim Abodi made a list of things which he would like to do in his life. The most important thing in this list is to destroy the Israel tanks which block the street and not allowed people to go out. Karim and his family couldn't do anything except sitting at home till the curfew ends. He couldn't play football which is his passion or even see his friends. He has an elder brother who was always annoying him his name was Jamal. Karim was about to go insane because his brother in addition to cant go out side. When the curfew ends Karim was so happy and went out with his new friend Hopper to play football. They found a piece of ground which is a wasteland, and decided to play football on it. However, the tanks and gun shoots came back and Karim and his friend couldn't escape from there. To know what happened and if Karim could go home you should read it. It's really an interesting story, and u can learn a lot from it. whatI learned is to fight for life and my aims whatever it takes to be alive and achieve them.
January 25, 2024
There are so few Palestinian middle grade books, so on that premise alone this 216 page book has a lot of value. Because I am not Palestinian, I do not live, nor have I ever lived under occupation, I can argue some of the concerns from a point of privilege, and I acknowledge that is not my right. I have been asked numerous times about this book and how it frames the suicide bombing mentioned in the text and blurbed about on the back of the book. It honestly is not a large part of the story, that being said, in my outside privileged view, I do not know that a 10 year old in the west will have context to understand the act of this level of desperation from the oppression and humiliation mentioned in the book. This is why I have held off my review. The truth does not need to be defended or explained, and I fear my reservations will be taken as such, which is not my intention. Would I let me 8 year old read this, yes, but we will read it together and discuss. My children are aware of what is going on in Palestine, but Karim, the 12-year-old protagonist supports the bomber, and that notion is not clearly pushed back on. With discussion, absolutely, I think readers, will truly get Karim's perspective that something has to be done to change the status quo. The fear when Karim is alone and the target of soldiers, the settlers forcibly seizing the family land, the humiliation of strip searching men at checkpoints, the curfews, and constant fear of attack and imprisonment are all presented through the main character's eyes, and would also do better with some discussion, so that empathy and duas and action can result. But, the commentary as to the suicide bombing are minimal, there is even a prank package bombing that is presented as rebellion by a side character, and I would worry how a young child, without guidance, would internalize it. Additionally, this is yet another difficult book for me to review, primarily because it was first published in 2003, and because I don't know how much comes from a western gaze and how much the Palestinian voice played into it. Islam is clear on the prohibition of suicide. In the early 2000 the news out of Israel was often about such attacks, but as an outsider, I honestly do not know if it was simply Israeli propaganda and stereotypes amplifying the idea as part of their public relations strategy or reality, seeing as now that Palestinians have direct outlets to share their daily life under an oppressive occupation, there is rarely talk of suicide bombing attacks. The author states on her website:
"I first visited Israel in 1968, and enjoyed a warm welcome from many Israeli friends. Later, I lived in Beirut with my husband and son during the civil war there, and became aware for the first time of the tragedy of the Palestinian refugees. I visited both Gaza and Ramallah, in the occupied territories, in 2002, while leading workshops for Palestinian writers. I was appalled by the circumstances in which people were living, and became aware that we in the West know very little of what life is like for Palestinians living under military occupation.
I have written A Little Piece of Ground in collaboration with Sonia Nimr, a Palestinian archaeologist, storyteller, writer and translator, who lives in Ramallah. We have tried to make our story as true to life as we can."
The book is a hard read at times, but the joy is there. Just as we as adults scroll through the devastation, the humanity persists. The world may try and forget that they are attempting to erase a rich culture, but even in this book, their is laughter, and crushes, and sibling squabbles, and soccer games and friendship, and food, and joy. There is a little Islam, not much, the main character is Muslim, a best friend is Christian. It isn't present in their everyday thoughts and actions, more just in identifying their faith.
SYNOPSIS:
Karim and his friends are not so much different than 12-year-olds everywhere, he loves video games, playing sports, isn't so sure what he wants to be in the future, wonders what he will look like as he grows up, and is often annoyed with his family who he loves dearly. Karim's life in Ramallah is also unique, he lives under curfew, he doesn't have freedom of movement, opportunity, or equal rights, and a simple family outing can be life altering.
The book follows Karim and his group of friend as they discover a patch of land they decide to turn into a soccer field, to claim as their own. They work on it on days they can sneak away after school, in windows of time between curfews, and before long start to take pride in what the land can be. Adopting cats, learning about new friends from the refugee camp next store, teasing siblings about their crushes is all in contrast to Karim watching his father be stripped searched at a check point, being chased off their family land when they are harvesting olives by settlers shooting at them, and pranking soldiers in desperation of fighting back against oppression.
When soldiers roll in and occupy the land the boys have claimed, symbolic of their whole country, Karim gets stuck barricaded in an old abandoned car for days, with soldiers aiming their sights on him, and wondering if he will survive.
FLAGS:
Suicide, systemic abuse, oppression, humiliation, dehumanization, killing, beating, apartheid, genocide, violence, stripping, lying, crushes, occupation, shootings, injuries.
TOOLS FOR LEADING THE DISCUSSION:
This book does not need tools to be discussed. It itself is a tool, to help middle grade kids be aware that this cruelty has been occurring for 75 years, this book took place 20 years ago, and today we just have social media sharing these stories more widely. InshaAllah soon, Palestine will be free.
"I first visited Israel in 1968, and enjoyed a warm welcome from many Israeli friends. Later, I lived in Beirut with my husband and son during the civil war there, and became aware for the first time of the tragedy of the Palestinian refugees. I visited both Gaza and Ramallah, in the occupied territories, in 2002, while leading workshops for Palestinian writers. I was appalled by the circumstances in which people were living, and became aware that we in the West know very little of what life is like for Palestinians living under military occupation.
I have written A Little Piece of Ground in collaboration with Sonia Nimr, a Palestinian archaeologist, storyteller, writer and translator, who lives in Ramallah. We have tried to make our story as true to life as we can."
The book is a hard read at times, but the joy is there. Just as we as adults scroll through the devastation, the humanity persists. The world may try and forget that they are attempting to erase a rich culture, but even in this book, their is laughter, and crushes, and sibling squabbles, and soccer games and friendship, and food, and joy. There is a little Islam, not much, the main character is Muslim, a best friend is Christian. It isn't present in their everyday thoughts and actions, more just in identifying their faith.
SYNOPSIS:
Karim and his friends are not so much different than 12-year-olds everywhere, he loves video games, playing sports, isn't so sure what he wants to be in the future, wonders what he will look like as he grows up, and is often annoyed with his family who he loves dearly. Karim's life in Ramallah is also unique, he lives under curfew, he doesn't have freedom of movement, opportunity, or equal rights, and a simple family outing can be life altering.
The book follows Karim and his group of friend as they discover a patch of land they decide to turn into a soccer field, to claim as their own. They work on it on days they can sneak away after school, in windows of time between curfews, and before long start to take pride in what the land can be. Adopting cats, learning about new friends from the refugee camp next store, teasing siblings about their crushes is all in contrast to Karim watching his father be stripped searched at a check point, being chased off their family land when they are harvesting olives by settlers shooting at them, and pranking soldiers in desperation of fighting back against oppression.
When soldiers roll in and occupy the land the boys have claimed, symbolic of their whole country, Karim gets stuck barricaded in an old abandoned car for days, with soldiers aiming their sights on him, and wondering if he will survive.
FLAGS:
Suicide, systemic abuse, oppression, humiliation, dehumanization, killing, beating, apartheid, genocide, violence, stripping, lying, crushes, occupation, shootings, injuries.
TOOLS FOR LEADING THE DISCUSSION:
This book does not need tools to be discussed. It itself is a tool, to help middle grade kids be aware that this cruelty has been occurring for 75 years, this book took place 20 years ago, and today we just have social media sharing these stories more widely. InshaAllah soon, Palestine will be free.
March 14, 2014
This is a very good book. It is narrated in the eyes of a Palestinian boy. The Israelis have taken over Palestine and have set down curfews. The bot Karim woks on a little piece of ground called Hopper's ground. Karim goes there every day. His parents are worried and interested in where Karim is going and they think that he was being harassed by the Israelis. When the second curfew is set, Karim doesn't make it to his house so he hides out not an abandoned car with no food or water. Karim is shot while trying to escape after his second day in the car. His brother rescues him and takes him to the hospital and then finally goes home when the second curfew is lifted. The rest of the book I won't say because I might spoil it. Overall, this is a great book and I suggest that you read it.
May 20, 2017
The novel illustrate how Palestinian people live under occupation where the curfew , poverty and torture. Laird traced Karim life where he lists his wishes to where he was shoot by Israel soldier .
A Little Piece of Ground show us apart from Palestinian children experience
A Little Piece of Ground show us apart from Palestinian children experience
December 28, 2007
Coming of age short novel about a young Palestinian boy who overcomes the terrors of war through play.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 175 reviews