Friday, January 9, 2009

Sydney Taylor Book Award Winner for Teen Readers

The Sydney Taylor Book Award recognizes the best in Jewish children's and teen's literature. Medals are awarded annually for outstanding books that authentically portray the Jewish experience. The Gold Medal winner for teen readers is: A Bottle in the Gaza Sea by Valerie Zenatti

From the jacket: When teen Tal Levine witnesses a bombing in Tel Aviv, she becomes despondent. Like so many people, she wants Israel and Palestine to live in peace. One day she puts her hopes into a letter, places the letter into a bottle, and gives it to her brother, asking him to toss it into the Gaza Sea. A young man in Gaza finds the bottle, and responds. He is critical, angry, annoyed at first, but eventually they both participate in a friendship that ultimately opens their eyes.

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