To Be Seventeen in Israel: Through the Eyes of an American Teenager

Plot

Provides a view of Israeli society through the eyes of a visiting seventeen-year-old American, describing family life, schools, the army, recreation, and other aspects.

Grade 7 Up As an off-campus independent study project, Clayton-Felt, a Massachusetts teenager, lived for five weeks with a family in Israel. There he went to a public high school and, in general, lived the life of an Israeli teenager. He met many of his peers and questioned them about their feelings and values, opinions of themselves and of Americans, and their attitudes towards their own country before writing this account of his experiences. Augmenting the text are many photographs, including some that he took and some stock photos. Although Clayton-Felt's photos are not the most professional, they are the most interesting since they show the people and places about which he writes. This slim volume should be accepted for exactly what it is: a well-done and thoughtful high-school term paper. Admittedly subjective, the book reveals the author's unabashed enthusiasm and admiration for Israel and the Israelis. For libraries where there are never enough books about Israel, this would be a good supplementary choice.