Peace Be With Us Booklist

This list was prepared for the Berkeley Unified School District's Days of Peace Teach-In. These titles are recommended for middle school readers who want to explore a range of fictional and actual experiences of war, peace and the world we share. The list is divided into three sections: Enduring War; Working Toward Peace; and Listening To Each Other, and ends with a brief list of related local organizations and web sites. This is a very selective list; please ask at the Berkeley Public Library for other suggestions. A companion list of 10 read-aloud titles for K-5 grade students is also available.

Enduring War: Some of the most powerful books about peace are those that describe the horrors of war.

Working for Peace: Meet children and adults, in novels and in real life, who work towards peace in many different ways and places.

Listening to Each Other: "If we don't share our stories - trading them across our borders as freely as spices and ebony and silk - we will all be strangers forever." Susan Fletcher, Shadow Spinndr, Atheneum, 1998

Local Organizations Working Towards Peace

Web Sites

Enduring War

Author	Title
Armstrong, Jennifer (editor)	Shattered: Stories of Children and War. (2002)
Twelve thought-provoking stories explore the realities of war from a teenager's perspective. The authors put a human face on conflicts in various parts of the world and show far-reaching consequences, driving home the point that no one is left untouched in war. (Fiction Shattered)
Carmi, Daniella	Samir and Yonatan. (2000)
In this story of violence and healing originally published in Hebrew in 1994, Samir, a Palestinian boy in an Israeli hospital, slowly makes friends and comes to terms with his younger brother's death at the hands of an Israeli soldier in his war-ravaged world. (YT Fiction Carmi)
Carnes, Jim	Us and Them: A History of Intolerance in America. (1995)
Fourteen case studies bring readers a first-hand account of the history and psychology of intolerance. Teaching Tolerance, a project of the Southern Poverty Law Center, includes this book as the text component in a kit that also contains a video, The Shadow of Hate: A History of Intolerance. (305.8 C216u 1996 & 1995)
Ellis, Deborah	The Breadwinner. (2001)
Set in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, eleven-year-old Parvana must disguise herself as a boy so that her family can survive after her father's arrest. The sequel Parvana's Journey continues the horrifyingly realistic picture of the effect of this war on children, as Parvana and her young friends search for her family and struggle for survival. (Fiction Ellis)
Isaacs, Anne	Torn Thread. (2000)
In an attempt to save his daughter's life, Eva's father sends her from Poland to a labor camp in Czechoslovakia where she and her sister survive World War II. By a local author. (YT Fiction Isaacs)
Myers, Walter Dean	Patrol: An American Soldier in Vietnam. (2001)
A frightened American soldier faces combat in the lush forests of Vietnam. (YT Fiction Myers)
Ousseimi, Maria	Caught in the Crossfire : Growing up in a War Zone. (1995)
This book explores the war-torn societies of Lebanon, El Salvador, Mozambique and Bosnia-Herzegovinia, as well as Washington, D.C., and captures the physical and psychological devastation that war has wrought on young people. (305.23 Ou8c)
Philip, Neil (editor)	War and the Pity of War. (1998)
This moving, beautifully illustrated anthology of poems presents war in all its horror and heroism as seen through the eyes of poets the world over, from ancient China to present-day America, from ancient Sparta to Bosnia. (808.81 W195)
	The Shadow of Hate: A History of Intolerance [videorecording]. (1995)
A film by Charles Guggenheim and Teaching Tolerance, a project of the Southern Poverty Law Center, this documentary examines three centuries of American history to understand its prejudice and intolerance. Used in conjunction with Jim Carne's book Us and Them: A History of Intolerance as a kit. (VHS 303.385 Sh12)
Temple, Frances	Taste of Salt: A Story of Modern Haiti. (1992)
In the hospital after being beaten, seventeen-year-old Djo tells the story of his impoverished life to a young woman who, like him, has been working with the social reformer Father Aristide to fight the repression in Haiti. (YT Fiction Temple)
Tolan, Stephanie S.	Flight of the Raven. (2001)
Elijah, a nine-year-old African American with unusual mental powers and a special ability to reach into the natural world, becomes a hostage of a terrorist militia group and finds himself in a world of violence. (YT Fiction Tolan)
Westall, Robert	Echoes of War. (1991)
This collection of five short stories examines the lingering repercussions of war on the lives of young people everywhere. (YT Fiction Westall)

 

Working For Peace
Author	Title
Blue, Rose and Corinne J. Naden	People of Peace. (1994)
Biographies of inspiring people who have done outstanding work for peace in various different parts of the world, including Mahatma Gandhi, Desmond Tutu and Jane Addams. (920. 1 B625p)
Brill, Marlene Targ	Journey for Peace: The Story of Rigoberta Menchú. (1996)
In 1992, Rigoberto Menchú received the Nobel Peace Prize for her work in supporting her fellow Mayans whose land was threatened. (920 M521b)
Cameron, Sara J	Out of War: True Stories from the Front Lines of the Children's Movement for Peace in Colombia. (2001)
Children's Movement for Peace, a coalition of courageous teenagers working together to combat the civil war in Colombia with peaceful means, has been nominated three times for the Nobel Peace Prize. Nine of its members share their haunting stories in this book. (305.2 C)
Carter, Jimmy	Talking Peace: A Vision for the Next Generation. (1995)
This book discusses the various factors involved in peace negotiations and conflict resolution, and shows the power behind the author's message that all people share common needs, common rights and a common quest: the pursuit of peace. (371.1 C245 1995)
Hamanaka, Sheila	On the Wings of Peace. (1995)
Famous authors and illustrators from a variety of cultures present a collection of prose and poetry exploring aspects of peace, from issues of personal violence to the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. (810.8 On1)
Kerr, M. E.	Slap Your Sides: A Novel. (2001)
Life in their Pennsylvania hometown changes for Jubal Shoemaker and his family when his older brother witnesses to his Quaker beliefs by becoming a conscientious objector during World War II. (YT Fiction Kerr)
Kuklin, Susan	Iqbal Masih and the Crusader Against Child Slavery. (1998)
An account of the young Pakistani child labor activist whose life and unexplained murder brought to the attention of the world the evil of child bondage. (331.3 M378k146o)
Levine, Ellen	Freedom's Children: Young Civil Rights Activists Tell Their Own Stories. (1993)
Southern blacks who were teenagers (and younger!) and involved in the civil rights movement during the 1950s and 1960s describe their experiences as they put their lives on the line in their fight for freedom. (325.2 L578fr)
MacDonald, Margaret Read	Peace Tales. (1992)
A collection of folktales from cultures around the world, reflecting different aspects of war and peace. (398.2 P313)
Meltzer, Milton	Ain't Gonna Study War No More: The Story of America's Peace Seekers. (1985)
Presents a history of pacifism and those who have protested against war, concentrating on war resistance in the United States, from colonial days up to the movement against nuclear arms. (327 M496a)
Nathan, Amy	Everything You Need to Know About Conflict Resolution. (1999)
Using plenty of examples, this book provides a look at conflict and the different skills that can help teenagers work problems out together. (303.6 N195e 1999)
Partridge, Elizabeth	This Land Was Made For You and Me: The Life and Songs of Woody Guthrie. (2001)
This biography of the folk singer shows a man who used his art to focus the country's attention on social issues including peace. (780.92 G984p)
Terkel, Susan Neiburg	People Power: A Look at Nonviolent Action and Defense. (1996)
Covers the definition, principles, and methods of nonviolence, exploring alternative ways to deal with conflict. (303.6 T272p)

 

Listening To Each Other
Author	Title
Ashabranner, Brent	An Ancient Heritage: The Arab-American Minority. (1991)
Discusses the cultural experience of Arab Americans and the history of Arab immigration to the United States. (304.7 As31a)
Azzam, Leila and Aisha Gouverneur	The Life of the Prophet Muhammad. (1985)
The Islamic Texts Society presents an extensive biography of the Prophet Muhammad. (297.63 M725za2)
Fletcher, Susan	Shadow Spinner. (1998)
When Marjan, a thirteen-year-old girl, joins the Sultan's harem in ancient Persia, she gathers for Shahrazad the stories which will save the queen's life. (YT Fiction Fletcher)
Hoose, Phillip M.	We Were There, Too! Young People in U.S. History. (2001)
Biographies of dozens of young people who made a mark in American history, including explorers, planters, spies, cowpunchers, sweatshop workers, and civil rights workers. (973 H769w)
Hoyt-Goldsmith, Diane	Celebrating Ramadan. (2001)
In crisp color photographs and insightful text, Ibraheem, a fourth-grader, and his Muslim family participate in the fourteen-hundred-year-old celebration of Eid al-Fitr, the feast that ends Ramadan. (297 H854c)
Husain, Shahrukh	Mecca. (1993)
This book examines this most holy city for the world's community of Muslims, and traces its unique identity and character through its history and cultural heritage. (297 Sh13m)
Khan, Rukhsana	The Roses in my Carpets. (1998)
When a young boy and his mother and sister come to a refugee camp to escape the war in Afghanistan, he finds some comfort in the beauty of the carpets he is learning to weave. (Fiction Khan)
Nye, Naomi Shihab	Habibi. (1997)
Fourteen-year-old Liyana Abboud faces many changes and challenges when she, her younger brother, and her parents move from St. Louis to a new home between Jerusalem and the Palestinian village where her father was born. (YT Fiction Nye)
Nye, Naomi Shihab (editor)	The Space Between Our Footsteps: Poems and Paintings from the Middle East and North Africa. (1998)
A medley of voices and visions from over 20 different countries, with translated verses from a variety of cultures. (808.81 Sp11)
Smith, David	If the World Were a Village: A Book About the World's People. (2002)
Pictures and brief text imagine the whole population of the world as a village of 100. (304.6 Sm544i)
Stanley, Diane	Saladin, Noble Prince of Islam. (2002)
This beautifully illustrated biography introduces the great Muslim warrior and leader Saladin, who unified his people during the twelfth century crusades and won the respect of his enemy, Richard the Lionhearted. (920 Sa299s)
Temple, Frances	The Beduins' Gazelle. (1996)
In 1302, two cousins of the nomadic Beni Khalid tribe who are betrothed become separated by political intrigue between warring tribes. (YT Fiction Temple)
Wormser, Richard	American Islam: growing up Muslim in America. (1994)
A portrait of Muslim-American youth and their faith. (297.0973 W894ac)
Zeman, Ludmila (retold by)	Gilgamesh the King. (1995)
One of the oldest stories known, the epic of Gilgamesh was first composed in Southern Mesopotamia before 2000 B.C. This first of three picture books based on the epic tells how the half god Gilgamesh meets his human equal. (398.22 Z4g)

 

Local Organizations Working Towards Peace

The Berkeley Public Library's Berkeley Information Network (BIN) lists over 2000 local organizations, agencies, non-profits and clubs. Check for online access to a variety of local resources, including Athletes United for Peace, Musicians and Fine Artists for World Peace, Arab World and Islamic Resources and School Services, Veteran's Speakers Alliance, Middle East Children's Alliance, and more.

Web Sites

Children of Conflict
www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/people/features/childrensrights/childrenofconflict
Children caught in a war zone in different parts of the world are the topic of this site. Their stories are told in brief articles, with letters and quotations from many children in their own voices and in many languages, using Real Audio. There are numerous links to further information in every topic. A project of the BBC World Service.

Guardians of the Millenium
www.theguardians.com/
The Peace in Space Knowledge Adventure was produced in association with the United Nations Office of Outer Space and in cooperation with the European Space Agency. Students have created their visions of living and working in space through international cooperation online, with a space station simulation and a Mars rover simulation. This site also features space games and a teacher's area.

The Nobel e-Museum
http://nobelprize.org/educational/
The official website of the Nobel Foundation gives information about all Nobel Prize Laureates in Peace and some articles written by them.

Response to Terrorism
http://www.america.gov/relations/security.html
This site, produced and maintained by the U.S. Department of State, presents an overview of United States government response to current terrorism around the globe.

Towards a Culture of Peace
http://www3.unesco.org/iycp
Peace is in our hands! UNESCO's Culture of Peace Project aims to promote values, attitudes and behaviors that will lead people to seek peaceful solutions to problems.

United Nations CyberSchoolBus
www.un.org/Pubs/CyberSchoolBus/index.html
This website offers various resources for the UN Global Teaching and Learning Project. It includes games at various levels and a Peace Unit, available in 6 languages.

Want to get your hands on one of these books? Check the Berkeley Public Library catalog to see where you can get a copy!