The Bat-Chen Diaries

by Bat-chen Shahak

Book Overview

In 1996, on her 15th birthday, Bat-Chen Shahak was killed by a suicide bomber in Tel Aviv's Dizengoff Center. But the gifted teenager left behind a rich legacy of diaries, letters, poems and drawings. Following her death, her parents gathered her writings and created The Bat-Chen Diaries ; this is the first English translation of her work.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0822572230
• ISBN13: 9780822572237
• Release Date: January 2008
• Publisher: Kar-Ben Publishing (Tm)
• Length: 110 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 6.0" x 8.6"
• Age Range: 10 to 13 years
• Grade Range: Grades 5 to 8

Customer Reviews

The Bat-Chen Diaries

"Every day another person's life ends. But He passes me by. I hope that He won't also take me. It's unknown. It's unforeseen." This is the first stanza of one of the more moving poems left to us by Bat-Chen Shahak in a new English language compilation entitled The Bat-Chen Diaries. This book is a diverse compilation of diary entries and letters written by Bat-Chen Shahak who was killed by a suicide bomber on her 15th birthday on Purim 1996. Taken in this context this poem in particular is quite moving and can be quite powerful to those of any age who read it. The entries and poetry span from her third grade school assignments through the day she was killed. Together they help piece together her life, that of an average teenager in Israel. Select entries may be useful to teachers of middle school and high school students to help them relate to an individual who tragically died so young. It is not a cohesive volume in that one would sit down and read it straight through. The level of the writing is appropriate to the age level at which it was written making it effective as a psychological thought provoker, but less so for its literary value. The translation was done with regard to the words and not the style as noted by the translator, hence much of the rhymes and rhythm are lost. This may have affected the literary quality of the work. With the proper background, support and insight, this book would be appropriate for youth ages 12-16. Reviewed by Drora Arussy

Stories for Children Magazine 5 Star Review

When I first saw the title of this book, I had no idea what I was getting into and how MUCH I would be moved by this author, who was all of 15 years old in 1996. The writer in me was absolutely astounded and in awe of the gift this young girl has with the written word. Her diaries cover every thought young people everywhere think, and she endeared herself to my heart forever by the time I finished the book and put it down amidst my tears. As a grandmother, I was deeply moved by the wisdom shown through these words that this young girl had for all of us reading her diaries. I urge every parent out there to read this book with your kids, and be available for tons of questions. Bat-Chen was named after a beautiful flower that dots the hillsides of Israel. Like her namesake, Bat-Chen was also beautiful, inside and out. No thought on anything was left out of her diaries. She had a wisdom well beyond her 15 years at the time of these writings. When Prime Minister Yizhak Rabin was assassinated in 1995, Bat-Chen was so moved by it that she wrote a poem (she was 14) and a condolence letter, then sent these to his widow, Leah. Leah wrote a moving afterward at the end of Bat-Chen's book. The reason? Bat-Chen and two of her best friends were killed in March, 1996, four months after Rabin's death, in a suicide bombing at a bus stop in which 13 people were killed. It was the holiday of Purim, and it also happened to be Bat-Chen's 15th birthday. Ironically, Bat-Chen firmly believed that peace could be possible one day in her part of the world. Oh, how I wish that were true, and that we didn't lost this promising young lady and all that she would have offered to us on this earth. Her writings are full of the hope of a young girl for a peaceful future, and includes several cards to her Arab pen pal, a thank you note to her ear doctor, she wrote about a typical teen's anger towards her parents for something she wasn't allowed to do, and then love towards her siblings and parents, in this diary that ran the gamut of every emotion that is part of life. This young girl was so full of life, and so full of wisdom, it is uncanny. As a writer, I envy the simplicity and clarity of her words, and their strength, and their purpose. She also wrote about the terror she felt living in Israel, where there is never really peace for either side. Her one desire was for everyone to get along - that is one of the reasons she had an Arab pen pal - so that they could learn from each other not to hate. We hear about the suicide bombings on the news all the time. In our part of the world, I think we get immune to them because they aren't happening here, and there are so many of them "over there". This young girl, through her diaries, letters, poems, and drawings, put a name and a face to this terrible tragedy our world endures, and she will never be forgotten, at least by me, for the rest of my life. As a writer, I cannot even begin to describe the incredible talent of Bat-C

for all ages

an amazing book about an israeli girl who was killed in a terrorist attack. the book is great for any teacher who wants to teach and encourage writing and expression. it is great for youth groups and encounter groups dealing with cross-cultural differences and conflict. sensitive insights into life. wonderful gift for anyone over 9 years old.