This book, appropriate for readers young and old, holds literature's great power: the power to humanize the 'other, ' and to therefore change the way we understand our world. 'In vivid, beautiful prose, Ibtisam Barakat transports readers into a place few Westerners have ever seen-the interior life of a young girl and her family in the occupied West Bank. Winner of the Arab American National Museum Book Award for Children's/YA Literature Transcending the particulars of politics, Tasting the Sky: A Palestinian Childhood is an illuminating and timely book that provides a telling glimpse into a part of the Middle East that has become an increasingly important part of the puzzle of world peace. The book ends in 1971 when a broken hearted Ibtisam moves again from her childhood home, this time for good.

This is the beginning of her passionate connection to words, and as language becomes her refuge, allowing her to piece together the fragments of her world, it becomes her true home. This child’s life is full of fear, courage, agony, happiness, love, disappointment, and fulfillment as she endures the occupation along with her family.

With candor and courage, she stitches together memories of her childhood: fear and confusion as bombs explode near her home and she is separated from her family the harshness of life in the Middle East as a Palestinian refugee her unexpected joy when she discovers Alef, the first letter of the Arabic alphabet. In this groundbreaking memoir set in Ramallah during the aftermath of the 1967 Six-Day War, Ibtisam Barakat captures what it is like to be a child whose world is shattered by war. Just forget!'īut I do not want to do what Mother says. Thank you for reading.'When a war ends it does not go away,' my mother says.'It hides inside us. TASTING THE SKY IS AVAILABLE in: English, French, Spanish, Dutch, Farsi, and in several formatsġ) Electronic version 2) Hardcover 3) Edition for the visually impaired, and 4) Paperback. ♥ Best story award of the anthology CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, CHILDREN OF PALESTINE given to the short story that later on became the first chapter of TASTING THE SKY. ♥ TOP 10 BOOKS for ONE READ, Columbia, MO, USA. ♥ BOOK ONE, Bard College at Simon's Rock, MA, USA. ♥ VERMONT DOROTHY CANFIELD FISHER award master list ♥ New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age ♥ NCSS-CBC Notable Book in the Field of Social Studies ♥ American Library Association Notable Children's Book ♥ International Reading Association Teachers Choice ♥ International Reading Association Book for Global Society ♥ School Library Journal Best Books of the Year I hope that you love them. BALCONY ON THE MOON, Coming of Age in Palestine. ♥ Winner: Battle of the Books, Elk Grove, Illinois, USA. TASTING THE SKY, a Palestinian Childhood, and. ♥ Winner: The Cybils independent bloggers awards ♥ Winner: Arab American National Museum Awards ♥ Winner: International Reading Association Awards Buy the book ( Paperback edition, 20 16 release)īuy the book ( Hardcover edition, 20 07 release)

Tasting the sky a palestinian childhood