★★★★★ 5
A "magical" story of Palestinian life in the West Bank
Format: Hardcover
This young adult novel by Nora Lester Murad focuses on the quandary of a Palestinian-American teenager, Ida, who is learning about American culture while her extended family in the West Bank must cope with Israel’s many policies that discriminate against Palestinians. As Ida ponders how to fit in better at her school and a topic for a school assignment, she is magically transported to the land of her ancestors where she soon finds herself in a difficult situation. The novel explores several aspects of these policies, including the demolition of a friend’s home due to her family’s inability to get a construction permit. In between these difficult situations, there are some twists and turns that remind the reader of the importance of family and friends.
This novel will help to validate the experiences of Palestinian youth who are "caught in the middle" like Ida. Readers of all ages will gain new insights into conditions for Palestinians living in the West Bank and how these pressures impact the daily lives and futures of Palestinian youth. (A teacher’s guide is available, which will be especially helpful for those unfamiliar with the situations described in Ida in the Middle. )
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Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2023
