Review: Highly emotional book that tugs at your heartstrings.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 30, 2014
I'm a big admirer of Israel and keep up to date with events in that country. I remember a time not so long ago when there were a spate of suicide attacks by terrorists in Israel. I'd always wondered about the victims of these attacks, how they dealt with their tragedy and found the will and strength to live a fulfilling life even after their loss.This book, “The Tenth” by Smadar Shir is the story of a 10-year old boy Danny, who's lost his Mom in a terror strike, as well as suffered severe injuries himself in the same attack. He has lost an arm, a leg, an ear, has injuries all over his body, is confined to bed rest in a hospital, which has almost become a home and he is waiting for his tenth operation, which is a record for a boy so young.The reader really feels for Danny and his family – his poor Dad who is struggling to hold the family together and his little sister.Danny is in great pain, a phantom pain which people who have lost an arm or a limb feel. But his sharp intelligence is intact, so is his incisive observation of the people around him.  His will to live and lead a great life is highly uplifting to the readers. Danny is a big cynic. His cynical observation of the outside world is often amusing to the readers.This is a highly emotional book, and I couldn't help shedding a tear or two while reading it. Amazing book, and I hope it gets the attention that it deserves.