When Sarah Glidden took a “Birthright Israel” tour, she thought she knew what she was getting herself into. But when she got to Israel, she found that things weren’t quite so simple. HOW TO UNDERSTAND ISRAEL is Sarah’s memoir not only of her Israeli governmentsponsored trip through Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, the Golan Heights, Masada and other famous locations, but of the emotional journey she never expected to take while she was there. Her experience clashes with her preconceived notions again and again, particularly when she tries to take a non-chaperoned trip into the West Bank. Sarah is forced to question first her political beliefs and, ultimately, her own sense of identity, until she finds that to understand Israel she first must come to understand herself.
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Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Glidden, a progressive American Jew who is sharply critical of Israeli policies vis-à-vis the Occupied Territories, went on an all-expense-paid "birthright" trip to Israel in an attempt to discover some grand truths at the heart of the Arab-Israeli conflict. This graphic memoir tells the touching and often funny story of her utter failure to do so. As the tour group moves from the Golan Heights to Tel Aviv, Glidden's struggles with propaganda and perspective lead only to a morass of deepening questions and self-doubt. Her neurotic need for objective truths and struggle to reconcile historical perspectives is hugely gratifying for the reader. This is especially true when the group visits Masada, the site of an epic confrontation between a sect of Jewish rebels and a Roman siege army that culminated in mass suicide. Gruesome fanaticism or a stirring clarion call for the burgeoning Zionism movement? You be the judge. As befits a travelogue, Glidden's drawings have the look of something jotted down on the fly; if it weren't for a haircut here or a pair of glasses there, many of the characters would be indistinguishable. Yet the simplicity of the drawing is offset by bright, delicate watercolors that belie our heroine's unresolved struggle with history and heritage.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From School Library Journal
Gr 10 Up–After years of questioning her heritage, arguing with her mother about what it means to be Jewish, and dating a “goy,” Glidden succumbed to the lure of an all-expense-paid trip to Israel through Birthright, a program that offers Jewish young adults first-time trips to the country. At the onset, she declared, “I'm ready to go there and discover the truth behind this whole mess once and for all. It will be crystal clear by the time I come back.” An experienced traveler and a skeptic, she details her two-month excursion through cities and deserts. Readers witness her personal conflict as she seeks to view Israel with an objective eye. One effective literary device is the use of illustrated flashbacks from both Glidden's and Israel's past. The ghosts of David Ben Gurion and Sarah's deceased younger brother accompany her for several panels during her journey. She encounters the worldview of non-Eastern European Jews, Israeli soldiers, and her traveling companions, and begins to realize her limited perspective as she wonders “how many other people on the trip I've completely misjudged.” The author's inner voices as she struggles with her conflicting emotions are brilliantly portrayed during brief trials in “the court of birthright vs. brainwash,” where she serves as the prosecutor, defense, and judge. The tongue-in-cheek title hints at both the subtle humor and the complex subject matter. Glidden's soft, watercolor palette and realistic art complement without overshadowing this thoughtful exploration of the role that cultural heritage plays in the search for personal identity.–Barbara M. Moon, Suffolk Cooperative Library System, Bellport, NYα(c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Informative, Inspiring...and Challenging,
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This review is from: How to Understand Israel in 60 Days or Less (Hardcover)
I delayed reading as I'd never read a graphic novel before... But as soon as I started, I couldn't stop. Sarah has done a phenomenal job in capturing the essence of her experience - internal as well as the confusing world of the Middle East. I was moved by the care and sensitive she gives to all sides. No matter what position you hold in the troubling conflicting narratives of Israel-Palestine - you will find this book well worth your while. Share it with your friends! Give it for a Bar/Bat Mitzvah gift! Give it to the relations who think so differently than you!
16 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent job,
This review is from: How to Understand Israel in 60 Days or Less (Hardcover)
I was on a Birthright trip right around the same time, and was impress by the care and detail that went into portraying a complicated situation. The roller coaster of emotions you experience on a trip to Israel are accurately portrayed by the slightly neurotic protagonist, a character I can see a bit of in myself. This is an excellent book, highly recommended for Birthright alumni and those interested in Israel.
17 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent.,
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This review is from: How to Understand Israel in 60 Days or Less (Hardcover)
The book was great.
As someone who has not only lived in Israel, but also gone on many many group tours, I can easily say Glidden's take on Israel is accurate. The book is funny, touching and thought provoking. The drawings are pretty good too. I'm also grateful that such a personal and emotional journey could be shared in comic-form. I ordered the book, got it today, and finished reading it in two hours. I just could not put it down! Highly recommended.
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