A Little Piece of Ground by Elizabeth Laird

In studying Palestine/Israel, in history, you do not really get a feel for what it is like to live in the midst of such a conflict. In A Little Piece of Ground, by Elizabeth Laird, we have the story of a young Palestinian boy. The most noticable thing was how ordinary they are. It is a case of ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances, where suicide bombers are heroes and Israelis demonised.

One of things I liked was that how, even though Karim, the lead character, demonised the Israelis, the book contained hints that the Israelis were just as ordinary as the Palestinians, even though they do commit some terrible things:

"All the soldiers had relaxed. The one who had first seen Aziza walked over to the tank and called out to the person inside, who appeared at the turret and handed something to him. He strolled back to the little cat and squatted down beside her, holding out his hand." For the reader, this helps creates a sense that the Israeli soldiers are only human too, to take pity on small animals, but Karim only sees 'his' Aziza turning to the other side, in a sort of feline betrayal - "Food. She's even taking food from them, Karim thought with disgust."

So even though the book is told from the side of the Palestinians, there is a sense that it is not necessarily taking sides, just presenting things how they are. As well as this, the book shows the indomitable human spirit. Even living under seige, Karim's family, and the other Palestinians still manage to love and have fun - they never lose their humanity.

When Karim is in hospital, having been shot in the leg, Ramallah is 'under curfew'. No-one may go outside, and so supplies in the hospital are running low, even water, and the same doctors and nurses have been on duty for several days, since the curfews began, but still they make an effort for the people in the hospital. "The story of Karim's adventure and Jamal's heroic rescue had passed along the ward and both boys basked in everyone's admiration. Though food supplies were running low and meals were getting smaller, the nurses kept Karim's plate full and offered Jamal whatever there was to spare."

The 'little piece of ground' from the title is an area adopted by Karim and his friends, initially for football, but it soon becomes a symbol of their resistance against Israeli invasion. All the boy's hard work on this ground is destroyed in the climax of the story, but even then, they do not give up. And their parents encourage them, rather than look down on them for their games.

"Then there was Hopper's ground, spoiled by the enemy. That was enough to lower anyone's heart. But he wouldn't let it. Not for long. He'd go back soon, when his leg was better, and he'd start again, he and Hopper, and they'd bring in the other boys, and make the place theirs again, and play football, and play, and play."