The Boy from over There [Hardcover]

Tamar Bergman (Author)

Book Description

Avramik, a young Holocaust survivor, has difficulties adjusting to life on a kibbutz in the days before the first Arab-Israeli War.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This potent book about children living through Israel's war for independence is set on a kibbutz in the Jordan Valley. Young Rina waits in vain for her father to return from World War II. Avramik, a boy who lived through the war in Europe, is brought to the kibbutz by his uncle and, like Rina, dreams that his parent (this time, his mother) has not been killed. Avramik and Rina share a special bond, each aware of the other's pain. Life on the kibbutz has its turbulence: Rami, Avramik's cousin, is jealous of the time Avramik spends with Rami's father; the children argue over who should care for a puppy that comes to live with them. But all differences seem trivial when the events of the 1948 conflict involve the kibbutz, and Avramik must lead the children to safety. Bergman develops strong characters, and recreates kibbutz life in rich detail with vigorous images. Halkin's smooth, lively translation illuminates this moving novel about children and war. Ages 8-12.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Language Notes

Text: English, Hebrew (translation)

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 180 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin (Juv); 1St Edition edition (April 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0395430771
• ISBN-13: 978-0395430774
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,093,659 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars From War to War, October 19, 2005

By 

Middle School Teacher (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Boy from over There (Hardcover)

Can you imagine living through World War II in a cellar, then going to a place where everyone thinks you're weird? This was Avremelah's life in the book The Boy From Over There.
Avremeleh was taken from his homeland in Poland, and brought to a kibbutz in Palestine when Israel was gaining its independence. There he faced culture shock, prejudice, and another war. Why did his cousin Rami hate him so much?
Tamar Bergman draws you into Avremeleh's story with outstanding dialogue and superb descriptions. It is easy to identify with the children on the kibbutz because they are so similar to children of today. They not only fought and argued, but also cared for each other.
The Boy From Over There is an adventurous historical novel about the power of friendship. You won't want to put it down until you reach the end. I was ready to jump into the book and take part in the action. It's a perfect read-aloud for all school-age children.

by Ariel Mann, Lucas Olson, & Joel Waymire

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read, March 9, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: The Boy from over There (Hardcover)

This is a wonderful story of courage and the human spirit to continue on.