Samir and Yonatan

by Daniella Carmi

Book Overview

Winner of the Mildred Batchelder Award, this very human novel of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict is both touching and timely Nothing could be more frightening to Samir, a Palestinian boy, than to be... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0439135230
• ISBN13: 9780439135238
• Release Date: November 2002
• Publisher: Blue Sky Press
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.3" x 7.7"
• Age Range: 12 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 7 and higher

Customer Reviews

My thoughts on.....

This is a look at the Israeli-Arab "problem" which doesn't depict any war-clashes at all. It does, of course, indirectly deal with it through the eyes of children, who have inadvertently adopted the views of their parents. Now, left without their families, bound to their hospital beds - the real-time story takes place in a children's hospital ward - where the odd one our, our narrator, Samir, a Palestinian boy, is given a view into the lives of regular Israeli children - far away from the war zone, filled with soldiers, that is his home. The children and their various personalities are so much fun to read about - they have their little tiffs, but when it comes down to it, they all work together. What really makes the story stand out, though, is the juxtapositioning of Samir's point of view - young as he is, he has experienced a world of sorrows - and the seemingly carefree Israeli children. In proper YA fashion, the ending is, not "happy" - that would be too simplistic for a novel dealing with such a difficult problem - but satisfying, showing that there is a way for people to relate to each other as humans, regardless of our past history or current circumstances. We can include all other people, as long as we choose to do so.

The children of the conflict

I just finished reading this book to my adolescent daughters to increase their awareness of the conflict in the Holy Land. The entire story takes place in an Israeli hospital, where Samir is the only Palestinian boy in the children's ward. As he waits for his operation to be performed by an American doctor, he observes the funny antics, the emotional traumas and the interactions of the other children in the room. Although the story deals with a serious subject... Samir reflects on the difficulties his family is going through due to his brother's death in the streets, and the chaos, uncertainty, and fear resulting from the Israeli-Palestinian fighting... there are many light moments that had us laughing. As the book progresses towards the end though, it becomes more serious as the children deal with their individual problems. Although we were losing our enthusiasm for the story as the funny parts faded, Yonatan takes Samir on a "trip to Mars" where there is some interesting, poetical imagery, and the story ends in a hopeful, upbeat mood.

Winner of the Mildred Batchelder Award!

SAMIR AND YONATON has just been honored with the prestigious Mildred Batchelder Award, given by the American Library Association for the most distinguished work of translated literature each year. SAMIR had previously been named an honor book for the UNESCO peace prize for literature in the service of peace. In these times of trouble in the Middle East, I can think of no better way to explore the issues than through this fine novel by Israeli author Daniella Carmi.

Safe Spaces

Samir is a Palestinian boy who finds himself in a children's ward of an Israeli hospital. Injured in a childish accident that could have happened to any child anywhere, Samir awaits surgery to repair a shattered knee. In the interim, the author, Daniella Carmi, reveals aspects of each of the children's lives that connect them to each other. Momentary bonds form as vulnerability is exposed and spaces of safety are identified. Sometimes these spaces are tangible, like wrapped in a blanket or under a bed. Other times they are places in the mind where the familiarity of certain foods and family bring comfort. The character of Yonatan, an Israeli boy, whose father is an astronomer, brings these spaces together when he invites Samir to take a trip to Mars with him. It is on this trip that Samir realizes the potential for creating a space that is safe for all people. Daniella Carmi's story provides insight into many aspects of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict and points to children as the hope for resolution. The only drawback is that girls in the story are stereotypically portrayed as fearful and delicate: Razia hides under her bed to avoid seeing her father; Ludmilla wears her princess slippers. Nevertheless, the story is captivating and the characters believable.