Oranges in No Mans Land
Author Elizabeth Laird
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Story
Oranges in No Man’s Land tells the story of 10 year old Ayesha who lives in Beirut, Lebanon, with her Granny and two younger brothers. Ayesha’s father has left the country to find work, and her mother has died in a missile attack. The city is divided in half because of the civil war and a dangerous no man’s land separates the two sides. When Ayesha’s Granny becomes ill she must go on a journey to find a doctor on the other side of the city.
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Why we chose it
A story that shows what it is to live in a city divided and devastated by war.
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What a young reviewer said
I really enjoyed reading this book because the whole story was written smoothly with a twist in every corner, making it hard to stop reading. Ayesha is a strong and inspiring character, and her journey is both emotional and unforgettable. (Zoyia, age 11)
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First published
2006, Pan Macmillan
Story Reviews
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Oranges In No Mans Land is a moving story about Ayesha, a young girl living in war torn Beirut.When her grandmother becomes dangerously sick, Ayesha bravely "crosses no man's land" to find help. It demonstrates dangerous and difficult situations and friends on the enemy side that are willing to help. It shows how courage and hope can survive even in the middle of war. Ayesha is a strong and inspiring character, and her journey is both emotional and unforgettable. I really enjoyed reading this book because the whole story was written smoothly and a twist in every corner, making it hard to stop reading. I also really like how the author shows how two different people can form such a strong friendship for example one of them is deaf and knows sign language but the other doesn't, so they come up with their own way to communicate with each other. In conclusion I would read this again and I think this book is great for young readers because the story is quite short.