Books for Middle Schoolers

by Miriam Halahmy

Salman and his family are Iraqi Jews who are forced to flee Iraq for Israel, the “Promised Land.” as Iraq becomes increasingly unsafe for Jews.

by Carol Matas

Ruth Mendenberg risks her life to help lead a group of children on a daring journey over half a continent and across the sea to the Land of Israel, using secret routes and forged documents — and sheer force of will.

by Tammar Stein

Set in 1973, “Beni’s War” is the sequel to “The Six-Day Hero.” Twelve-year-old Beni must say goodbye to his older brother, Motti, who is now in the Israeli army.

by Arnon Z. Shorr
illustrated by Joshua M. Edelglass

A comic book short story set during Israel’s 1948 War of Independence. It tells the true story of the author’s grandfather, Jacob Shorr, a teenager from Jerusalem who was wounded in the battle of Ramat Rachel.

by David Grossman

This translated-from-Hebrew mystery novel set in 1960s Israel tells the story of 12-year-old David and his friendship with elderly Mr. Rosenthal, who is challenged to a duel. David sets out to save his friend’s life and, in the process, learns about relationships set in the background of British-Mandate Palestine and pre-Holocaust Europe.

by Laszlo Hamori

Translated from its original Swedish, Journey to the Promised land follows Yemenite Shalom Mizrachi and his family as their Jewish village uproots itself in order to take the difficult journey to Aden where they will then take planes to fly them into Israel.

by Jill Sherman

Learn about Israeli Gal Gadot and her life story of being born and raised in Israel, becoming a beauty pageant winner, entering the military, and eventually becoming a successful actress. Gadot serves as a positive role model for readers, especially young girls.

by Barbara Sofer

The author, Barbara Sofer, has written an engaging and informative short book that weaves the fictional story of four friends who represent the various backgrounds of many young Israelis who are about to join the army and the decision-making process for deciding which unit they will serve.

by Lynne Reid Banks

A coming-of-age novel about a Jewish-Canadian girl named Lesley whose family decides to leave their comfortable life behind to make aliyah to a kibbutz right before the Six-Day War. The story discusses issues to which many readers growing up Jewish in the Diaspora can relate, including assimilation and intermarriage.

by Eric A. Kimmel
illustrated by Dov Smiley

Greeks and Jews are living in an uneasy peace in ancient Judea. Jonathan, a Jewish boy, sees a Greek boy attacked by bullies, and stands up to defend him. They become best friends. But when war comes to their land, Jonathan joins the Maccabees while his friend joins the Greek army. They seem destined to fight one another. How will their friendship survive?

by Bat-Chen Shahak

The life of aspiring writer, 15-year-old Bat-Chen, was cut short when she was murdered in a suicide bombing in Tel-Aviv in 1996. Bat-Chen’s family and friends submitted letters, journal entries, pictures, and notes in order for readers to see the observations of this mature and eloquent Israeli teenager.

by Carol Matas

A sequel to Matas’ book, After the War, The Garden follows sixteen-year-old Holocaust survivor Ruth Mendolsohn as she settles into her new life working on a kibbutz in Palestine. Ruth and her fellow survivor friends who immigrated together to Israel have joined the Haganah and attempt to defend Jews from violence at the hands of local Arabs rioters and snipers.

by Sonia Levitin

The Return chronicles the life of the Jewish Ethiopians who are persecuted and discriminated against in Ethiopia. Fifteen-year-old Desta and her two siblings come to the difficult decision to embark on the dangerous journey to walk to Sudan where they hope to be rescued by Israelis and immigrate to the Promised land.

by Tammar Stein

12-year-old Motti lives in Jerusalem with his parents, younger brother, Beni, and older brother Gideon, who is serving in the Israeli army as the country faces war from neighboring Arab countries. Readers learn about the Six Day War from Moti, his family, friends and neighbors — including Holocaust survivors, native-born Israelis, and non-Jewish residents.

by Gila Almagor
translated by Hillel Schenker

Under the Domim Tree was written by Israeli film actress, Gila Almagor, who drew upon her childhood experiences to create a coming-of-age story centered around orphaned teenagers growing up in an Israeli agricultural youth village. The main protagonist, Aviya, is one of the few teenagers who was born in Israel, while all the others are Holocaust survivors.