Tasting the Sky: A Palestinian Childhood

Sorry to be a party pooper and bring down the ratings for this book. In truth, I wish I could give it three and a half stars, or maybe even three and three-quarters, but I can't quite go to four stars.The book is very important in many ways. It is beautifully written and very moving. And it helps to fill a knowledge gap that I'm sure I share with most of the world, or at least most of the Western world - understanding of the situation in Palestine and how it affects ordinary people. For those reasons alone, I highly recommend the book.But yet I have some concerns that keep me from giving it a higher rating. First is that the book implies (if not outright states) that it is an account of Barakat's childhood as impacted by the 6-Day War and resulting life as a refugee. Which it is, to a large extent. But several of the most formative experiences Barakat describes in her early life are only tangentially, if at all, related to the war and the occupation. Most of her life is formed - as is most everyone's life - by the influence of her family and the events within the nuclear structure and the local community. While the war and its aftermath are certainly a large reason for the loss of young Ibtisam's innocence, probably the biggest single factor in that loss (at least as described in the book) is the events surrounding the circumcision of her older brothers (that chapter, frankly, left me feeling more nauseated than even the chapter about fleeing from the Israelis and getting separated from her family). While the book is no less interesting or important when it simply reflects ordinary Palestinian life, I do think there is a bit of misrepresentation in tying everything to the war and the occupation.My other concern is structural, but I'm not sure there was a better way that Barakat could have written the book. The flight from the Israelis and separation from her family is in many ways the climax of the book - certainly the most riveting part. Having that portion come so early left a rather flattened feeling in the rest of the book. The rest of the book is simply the story of a refugee girl who overcomes a challenging situation through her love of learning. Again, not that that story is any less interesting, but it's simply not the story we started with. Obviously, given the actual chronological events, it would be difficult to have the flight scene come at the end of the book without unreasonable contrivances, but nevertheless, I ended the book feeling somewhat disappointed.As many other reviewers have pointed out, one of the most important aspects of the book is the lack of politics or blaming. It is simply an account through the eyes of a young girl recounting her experiences growing up in Palestine. Barakat's focus is on peace and understanding. She recognizes that both sides have valid views, but that both sides are harmed by the occupation. In that context, her book in invaluable as one of a growing number of voices - both Israeli and Palestinian - speaking out about their experiences and striving for mutual understanding. I especially appreciate her suggested reading/viewing list at the end of the book, and have already ordered two of those titles.

This book begins in 1981, when our author’s bus is stopped at Surda checkpoint between Birzeit and Ramallah. She’s detained for hours along with all the other bus riders. To calm herself, she goes into a reverie that takes her to her safe-haven, postbox 34. This box is her own little world of freedom where she receives letters from her pen pals, to whom she writes about anything and everything, except her traumatic childhood experiences!This account is a flashback told in the innocent voice of a three-and-a-half-year-old girl who is separated from her parents, for a whole day, during the six-day war in 1967. As the planes fly overhead, the family flees their home. Ibtisam who is still trying to lace up her left shoe suddenly realizes that there’s no one there. As fear strikes her little heart she leaves her right shoe and goes out into the dark. The courage and endurance of this little girl, in her quest to reunite with her parents is heart wrenching.Ibtisam Barakat draws you into her innocent, patient, persistent and very imaginative little life with magic strings that she weaves with her words and metaphors. She makes friends with a baby donkey in whom she confides. When she must leave him behind, she makes friends with the first letter of the alphabet and confides in the piece of chalk that drew him, until it finally crumbles into dust. This child’s life is full of fear, courage, agony, happiness, love, disappointment, and fulfillment as she endures the occupation along with her family.The book ends in 1971 when a broken hearted Ibtisam moves again from her childhood home, this time for good.In writing this book the author frees herself of the emotions that compelled her to shield her childhood. Her story is not done though. It continues in her next book Balcony on the Moon: Coming of age in Palestine… My next read.

I borrowed a copy from the library because I wanted to educate my sons on how fortunate they are to live in America. They've been asking a lot of intense questions about other kids in different parts of the world and I thought perhsps they would might learn something from this one.I picked it up last night to read it myself and could not put it down. In fact, I ended up ordering a copy for our own personal library ... this is a beautifully written memoir of a Palestian childhood just after the Six Day War (which I know nothing about). This is about a little girl who never wanted to leave her family and this is about a little girl who fell in love with her letters and life and her family. This is a beautiful memoir that describes certain memories the child may have in such extiquiste details that one cannot help but imagine it completely.This book is not a political book. The child doesn't understand why her country is being occupied by soldiers ... all she knows is that things are uncertain and times are hard. All she cares about is making sure that she won't get separated from her family again. This memoir also shares the memories of a childhood marked by poverty, by fear, by joy, by love and amazement. It is a small glimpse into the life of a young girl who is a refuge in her own country.The writing itself is poetical and I found myself reading the words over and over again just for the sheer simplicity of the words describing an ordinary moment that then becomes immortal in its grace. This is absolutely gorgeous and I hope the author will share more stories with us as her talent is real.4/15/10

Extremely well written, so descriptive you can see the child's mind ticking over. A really moving tale from Palestine. Recommended for everyone to read especially people who don't understand the injustices of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

Fantastic

This is a lovely book, written from the point of view of a child (3-7 years). I believe it is based on the authors own experience. Gave it to my 10 year old daughter, she was charmed by it. The writing style is beautiful, it helps give an introduction to the Middle Eastern conflicts to younger children.