A realistic look at how one Palestinian girl's family endures the current tensions between the Palestinians and Israelis. Malaak's father died in a bombing set by Islamic extremists. Her brother Hamid feels anger and a need to do be part of a cause, no matter the danger to himself. Malaak and her mother don't want to lose Hamid, too. Although I did not find the writing especially memorable or engaging, it is a topical novel for young readers who want to understand what's going on in the Middle East. ( )

This wasn't a bad book, in places it was beautifully written, but overall I found Malaak's voice unbelievable. I was expecting more outrage from Malaak and her family considering the Israeli occupation of Palestine, especially when we learn that their father is an innocent victim of a bus explosion. However, Hamid, Malaak's brother, is the only one who shows any anger at the situation the family is in, yet throughout the book he is warned to curb his hatred and desire for revenge. Considering the continual conflict between Israelis and Palestinians this was difficult to accept. ( )

Cathryn Clinton tells a very sad story from the view of a little girl who lost her father in the war between Israelis and Palestinians.Her way of mourning is shown in her loss of words until daily attempts and the fear about her brother, that something might happen to him, do not allow her any longer to be quiet. She wants to protect her family and really shows her bravery. Unfortunately, one day there was an incident....
Perfect book to introduce to the topic of Palestinian war or in general to deal with war. ( )

A Stone In My Hand is a book about a muslim girl that lives in palistine. It is set when the war between the palisinians and the isralites is. Malaak is the main character. Her name means angel. She has a brother (Hamid), a sister (Hend) and her mother. Her father left to find work. He never ame back one day. Mallak always waited for him on the roof but he neve returned. Malaak didn't talk much ever since her ather didn' come back.The only person she would talk to is Abdo. Abdo is a bird that can understand her. He is one of her best friends. Her brother Hamid like to rebel against the Isralian soliders. He thinks he is very tough and always plans attacking them with his best friend Tariq. Soon Malaak finds out her father was killed by a bomb from a terrorist group.Malaak was sent to school and meets a girl called Ruls and makes fiends wit her. ( )

Malaak is an eleven year old girl living in Gaza City in 1988 during the first intifada. Her father has left for Israel, hoping to find work, and Malaak spends hours on the roof of her house watching for his return. Waiting with her is a small bird she has named Abdo. As the days pass, Malaak stops talking and at times she feels her consciousness soar with Abdo.

Silence flutters down on us. It feels like Abdo lighting on my shoulder. This is safe. This slight moment, this space of rest, feels larger than now.

Most of the time, Malaak lives in fear. She thinks that with Abdo's eyes she can see her father in prison. Malaak's mother and sister bustle around the household protectively, but they are hiding something. And Malaak's beloved older brother, Hamid, and his friend, Tariq, have become shababs, or young activists, and even attend a meeting organized by the Islamic Jihad.

I look at Hamid. He is eager. He eats these words. His mouth opens and shuts. He clenches and unclenches his fists.

"We will not dishonor our heroes, our martyrs, by forgetting them. We honor the martyrs today. They are willing to sacrifice their lives to free people from the occupation. There are people all over the world today who are fighting against oppressors. Some will die. Every revolution has its martyrs."

Tariq stands there, unmoving. He doesn't even blink. I wonder if he hears anything. Maybe he is part stone already. A stone for someone to pick up and throw at a soldier...

Malaak spends her youth balancing between trying to keep her family safe and withdrawing into a mystical and silent world of her own. Poetic, yet sparse, the language of the book is hypnotic, and I, too, felt the seduction of withdrawal. It's a beautiful book, written for young adults, but I would recommend it for anyone interested in the Palestinian situation. ( )