Checkpoints

by Marilyn Levy

An Israeli and a Palestinian girl struggle to maintain their friendship in the face of conflict; Noa, an Israeli Jew, and Maha, a Palestinian Muslim, are two very different teenage girls—who may not be so different after all. They’ve become good friends, but after a tragic incident that changes Noa and her family forever, Noa’s beliefs about Palestinian and Israeli relations are put to the test. Shocking secrets are revealed that affect both Noa’s and Maha’s lives and test their blossoming relationship. Checkpoints brings to life the realities teenagers in the Middle East face today, as politics and prejudice threaten to tear lives and relationships apart. At the same time, it serves as a testament to the power of love and friendship in an often chaotic world.

178 pages, Paperback

First published October 6, 2008

Reviews

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Checkpoints by Marilyn Levy tells the story of seventeen year old Noa who lives in Israel. Noa lives in constant fear of suicide bombers and is frightened by Arabs in general. When an incident happens locking down her sister's college campus Noa and her sister let an Arab girl stay with them in her dorm room. This is the start of an unusual friendship.

This was a very good book that will help kids get a basic understanding of the situation in Israel. While the story follows Noa who is a Jew we learn a little bit about the Palestinian viewpoint from her friendship with Maha and how complicated the situation really is. My only real problem with the book was Noa's age. I felt like the story was not complex enough for older teen readers and is really written for the middle grade audience. If Noa was 12 or 14 this story would speak more to that audience. I enjoyed the story and felt like I learned a bit without feeling like I was stuck in an afterschool special.

Appropriateness: There is no adult content in this book. There is a bit of romance but nothing that would put off even a very young reader. I would recommend this book to readers 10-14.

Review copy provided by publisher

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really lovely book for kids (ages 10 - 13) that helps them understand the complexities of the Israeli and Palestinian conflict through the experiences of two teenage girls who become friends. Set during the Palestinian conflicts of the early 2000s, Noa, an Israeli, is afraid of the Palestinians she sees, watchful and worried for terrorist attacks. When she befriends a young Palestinian girl she begins to shed some fear and appreciate that they are just people too. However Noa is challenged further to make sense of things after family members are injured in an attack, dealing with her confusion to make sense of a complicated situation and difficulty in labeling all people good or bad. It also has a universal message around friendship and the importance of reaching out when things get tough. This is a very worthwhile read for late elementary and middle school ages.

[Foxglove · Rating 1 out of 5]

What a poorly written book, flatter than a paper and poorly written. Noa doesn't feel Israeli, we know nothing about her, she seems to exist for a message instead of existing as a character in the story. She doesnt' seem to have a narrative, she exists only to move the story along. Her brother Ari doesn't feel like an Israeli torn about serving in the territories, he seems like a rabid Anti-Zionist who hates his country and feels like he doesn't belong. Why did he join the army in the first place? Maha seems to exist to voice Palestinian concerns, but we know nothing about her. It doesn't feel like Israel, only a passion play where the author uses the various characters as puppets for different views.

EXTREMELY disappointed.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book - it holds positive messages in a time of turmoil. The characters are thoroughly believable and some tears were shed in a public place (oops)! The story is gripping, refreshing and shocking.

There are a lot of good things to say about this book. However, I felt that some very important conversations that could have been shared between characters (e.g. concerning the Maha/Noa friendship) were skimmed over and I felt that certain relationships were not developed in a satisfying way and to their full potential. Also, the intensely didactic nature of the book felt like I was being sat down and told off!