War in the Middle East
A Reporter's Story
Black September and the Yom Kippur War
by Wilborn Hampton
Conflict in the Middle East has never been easy to understand, but never has it been more
important for Americans to try. The events Wilburn Hampton covers—Black September, the
Yom Kippur War, and the peace talks—are all within my lifetime. The names are all
familiar. And yet, I found Hampton's clear summary of the issues (a summary that paints no
one as the "good guy" or the "bad guy") enlightening and thought provoking. This is more
than a summary of military action and political maneuvering, it's also a very personal
account of Hamton's days covering warfare. Hampton describes being injured by a ricocheting
bullet, seeing teen-aged prisoners marched away for a firing squad, and watching a woman beg
soldiers to stop shooting at her home, her mother, and her children. It's a moving book,
refusing to allow us distance on what war truly is. It's also an important book for young
people because it connects events like 9/11 and even the effect of President Obama's election,
showing how the Middle East and the United States are definitely connected despite their
geographical distance. It shows how what once might have seemed a very distant and
localized conflict could grow into something that intimately affected American citizens.
This is not a book that has all the answers—I doubt Hampton would claim it has any
answers—but it gives the reader the vital information necessary to start asking the
right questions. And if we can encourage our young people to ask questions and to think
globally, we can indeed hope for peace in the Middle East in their lifetime, even if we
never see it in ours. |
The Book |
Candlewick Press |
September 8, 2009 |
Softcover |
9780763643768 / 0763643769 |
Tweener Nonfiction / ages 10+ |
More at Amazon.com |
Excerpt |
NOTE: |
The Reviewer |
Jan Fields |
Reviewed 2009 |
NOTE: Reviewer Jan
Fields is the editor of Kid Magazine Writers emagazine and has written dozens of
stories and articles for the children's magazine market. |
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