A BOTTLE IN THE GAZA SEA PDF, EPUB, EBOOK Valerie Zenatti, Adriana Hunter | 149 pages | 01 Apr 2008 | Bloomsbury Publishing PLC | 9781599902005 | English | New York, United States A Bottle in the Gaza Sea (DVD, ) for sale online | eBay Mahmud Shalaby. Hiam Abbass. Riff Cohen. Abraham Belaga. Smadi Wolfman. Salim Dau. Loai Nofi. Abdallah El Akal. Jalal Masarwa. Max Olearchik. Director: Thierry Binisti. Facebook Twitter E-mail. Awards 4 nominations. It's quite difficult to find the good words to describe this touching story of a Jewish girl who intends to understand what happens in his country and tries to speak with somebody in the Gaza strip. And a young Palestinian begins to speak with her through internet. This film carries a very good message about peace, understanding and friendship!! Thus begins a most interesting friendship. Though at first their emails are fraught with cultural misunderstandings mostly on the part of the sometimes overoptimistic Tal , they soon become close friends. Their friendship is put to the test when Tal's love of film making causes her to witness something terrible. Opinions: This book was a very quick read, but the story lingers with you afterward, making it seem longer than it actually is. Naim and Tal are ordinary teenagers with ordinary lives, they just happen to live in an area of conflict. Had they lives elsewhere, where distance was the only thing that separated them, I don't think there would have been a story. The stumblings and fumblings of Tal and Naim's initial contact are very realistic; they are both quick to be defensive, despite wanting to prove that Israelis and Palestinians can get along. I read this pretty much in one afternoon, and was crying by the end of it. It is a very powerful story that stays with you long after it ends. Aside from the actual story, I loved the writing. I hate to remark on it, since this is a translation, but I really thought the writing was wonderful. It was simple and eloquent, and it really spoke to me. I think that this is a fantastic read for American teenagers; so often we hear about conflict in the Middle East, but we don't often get this sort of glimpse into the lives of people just like us. I will emphasize again: Tal and Naim are ordinary people. They stress over tests; they have little crushes. A Bottle in the Gaza Sea | EMA Films They wash our blood from their hands with the water that Israel keeps from us while also charging us for it. We have this wonderful website that keeps us connected with each other and with endless books. So please, read. But be aware that even books can be very very dangerous and counterproductive for awareness. This book is an example. I hope this review is taken in solidarity and resistance to all the forces that oppress and marginalize. Oct 10, Debbie rated it liked it. I picked up this book for the PopSugar reading challenge - a book of letters. As a way to reach out into the abyss, she puts a letter in a bottle, asks her brother who is reporting for duty across the sea in Gaza to throw it into the sea, and then waits. She gets a response back, by email, from a boy who calls I picked up this book for the PopSugar reading challenge - a book of letters. She gets a response back, by email, from a boy who calls himself Gazaman. Through this exchange, they learn about fear, war, humanity, family, and friendship. I can't say it's a totally satisfying read - after all, even fiction authors can't imagine a peace treaty that sticks between Israeli and Palestinian citizens - but I felt lighter and more hopeful after reading this. The key real is that we need to see people as individuals, rather than clumping them into some indistinct group based on region of residence, language, religion, ethnicity, or anything else - a point well-made in this book. Feb 21, Teri Weaver rated it it was amazing Shelves: mid-east- jewish. Jerusalem is seen as the center of the universe and the Israelis and Palestinians are people who are damaging the thing they claim to love. The year old daughter of a Jerusalem tour guide, Tal, lives in fear of terrorists, their bombs, and violence. She explains to the reader the peace treaty signed by Rabin and Arafat, along with Bill Clinton who according to her looked like an actor from a soap opera. Asking her brother, an Israeli soldier to drop a bottle with a note into the Gaza Sea, she hopes to talk to someone on the other side a Palestinian to discuss her dreams, and ask questions about the motivations of killing innocent people. The bottle is picked up by a teenage Palestinian boy named, Naim. Their discourse starts as a casual conversation through email communication, but evolves into a romantic interlude over time. Initially, I think that students will be drawn to this book because of the way the two main characters are communicating—electronically. They never meet face-to-face and I realized during the reading of this text that it mirrored much of what is happening with social networks and students. This type of communication is a strong part of adolescent culture for many students worldwide. Who is it out there, really? One could have a thousand pseudonyms, invent different identities, and lie, and have discussions with other people who may be lying too. The dangers of the Internet could be taught for middle school students in particular. Once students are hooked on the romantic element of the secret electronic communication between the characters, they will learn what it is like to experience the opposite cultures of Jews and Muslims. Readers gain a sense of the religious cultural significance of Jerusalem for all three groups. He accurately describes life in a refugee camp. Tal like the reader , has her eyes opened to what happens on the other side of the sea—the boredom, poverty, and destitution. Naim also questions strict Islamic law. His honesty allows the reader to examine the culture and discover why he is unsatisfied with aspects of it. He agrees with Tal that violence is not the answer to the problems in his world. Woven in the story is the heart- wrenching sorrow that these cultures experience through the daily violence that seems to have no end. Students watching this film could identify with the children, and they would learn about the physical, historical, and emotional boundaries that separate these two peoples. Because the children are so engaging, I believe that students would be able to understand and empathize with both sides of the issue. Seeing the conditions of refugee camps would be beneficial to comprehending the culture of the Palestinians who teach their females to dance for freedom, and their males to fight for it. Viewing an Israeli settlement will help students recognize that some of the hatred stems from ancient cultural beliefs and physical boundaries such as barbed wire fences that separate the two groups. This film is rich with visual cultural references such as clothing, personal grooming habits, and praying customs of both groups. Male and female stereotypes of these cultures are also exhibited for the viewer. In order to scaffold background knowledge and make this book come to life, I would allow students to view this film. Aug 06, Isabel rated it really liked it. This boy, called Gaza man, has conversations which Tal, the protagonist, responds to and talks about how life is like on the other side of the battle field. She worries about him and so does he, they become friends and tell stories if how they wish their lives were. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the world history or about how and understanding can make a difference. Mar 18, Gaelle Comby rated it it was amazing. I originally was attracted by the diary structure form of the book. Someone told me that is the same kind of book as Diary of Anne Frank. I think this book is great and help people to have an open mind. This book contains a lot of debate subject that will be very interesting to debate one day. It opens to a lot of different culture point and allows the readers to live in the book by the author words. I feel like I was more connected with Naim, Gazman than with Tal. I totally would say to my I originally was attracted by the diary structure form of the book. May 04, Vic rated it it was amazing. A very quick and lovely read. It's a wonderful and touching young adult book about hopes and dreams of a girl in Jerusalem and a boy in the Gaza strip in , as they try to reorient their thoughts and beliefs about people on each other's side. The format is touching, and their psyches are fragile. I'm sentimental and I teared up when reading about the weight of the conflict through the eyes of such young hearts. This book was a huge surprise. It was a assignment for language and it was sooo worth it. I liked all the mails concept and the relationship between the two characters. Both characters were so enjoyable to read and in just a few pages I got too attached to their lives. Really recommended and its totally for five stars. Apr 30, vic rated it it was amazing.