The Wall ( 288 Pages)

William Sutcliffe has written a book that will keep the reader thinking long after the book has been completed. I read the inside cover to my daughter and she said,"Gee it could have been about the Berlin Wall." My response was,"Yes, or the USA-Mexican border!" What is it about walls that make people feel safer? What is it about isolation that keeps people from understanding others? In this book, Sutcliffe has placed the setting in a reality closely mirroring Israel's West Bank. The book is tense, and surreal, while at the same time being completely plausible. It is not fantasy! Josh could easily be a young boy any where today. He is with a friend who is a bit of a duffus and who "accidentally" kicks Josh's new, leather soccer ball over "The Wall." And so the story begins. This is such an important read. One that is so in need of discussion. I can easily see it as a whole class read where a smart teacher guides discussion to the point of students questioning "the enemy". Who decides this? Is it important to maintain enemy status? Why? Get this book into your classroom ASAP!