I write novels, short stories, poems and song lyrics for children, teens and adults. On my website you can find out about my work, so come on in!

 

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Ever since October 7th things have not been so good at 12 year old Tamara Cohen's house. Dad is angry and upset, Mum is snappy and even little sister Eden is anxious and worried.

Dad and Tamara fall out and to make matters worse, Gidi's strange behaviour in their London High School, soon attracts the attention of bullies, Lola and Dean As the war between Israel and Gaza deepens, so do divisions at school, including the teachers and within Tamara's friendship group. Tamara's best friend Yazmin stops talking to her and a swastika appears on Tamara's locker.

Lola and Dean set up a football match with one side playing for Palestine and the other for Israel. Tamara begins to despair that things will ever be the same again.

Then Gidi tells her and the whole school about his club back home, Pomegranates For Peace, where Israeli Jews and Israeli Muslim Arabs come together to build bridges of understanding, in the belief that all people are equal and can live in Peace. Slowly his words begin to make a difference.

 

REVIEWS

When a real-world event is so polarised, it’s hard to imagine how a book for younger readers could provide a balance of perspectives. Meticulously researched, Miriam Halahmy’s Pomegranates for Peace provides a challenging, but sensitive narrative about young students trying to make sense of events following October 7th. Through its likeable characters, we are introduced to a range of authentic experiences and perspectives that also open up broader themes of racism and religious discrimination. Ultimately, the theme of peace shines through, with the aim of bringing a sense of hope for younger readers. Strongly recommended for teachers to use in the classroom to open up meaningful discussion.

Jane Yates, Educational Consultant for RE.

 

I really enjoyed Pomegranates For Peace. I didn't know much about the situation in Israel or about Jewish people in the UK and was really interested to hear about their experiences and also about the groups working for peace.

April, 13 years, UK school student.

 

 

What a moving and vivid story. Telling children what it feels like to be a modern British Jewish girl of twelve, trying to deal with the rise of anti-Semitism and confused loyalties of friends, and with a close-knit family supporting a traumatised Israeli cousin, is all painfully topical. I found Tamara and her group of friends very believable, and my heart broke for Gidi.  Amanda Craig, Author, critic and journalist.

 

Around the sympathetic and nuanced character of Tamara, Halahmy draws together a number of important themes: the interplay of politics and ethnic identity, the way psychological trauma impacts key characters, and the rise of antisemitism.

 Writing from a child’s view, the book deftly blends parties, friendship bracelets and pop singers with the politics of conflict in a way that feels truthful and authentic. Halahmy is a lifelong peace activist and her book makes a clarion call for friendship between Muslims and Jews.

Gaby Koppel, Reviewer and Journalist, JR Magazine

 

I loved the 'get to know and therefore understand and love each other as we're all human' messaging in this book and the channelling of feistiness. I will include it in my December booklist to parents as a 'Buy and Read' recommendation and add to the school library.

Karen Hans. School Librarian. Eltham College.

 

Tamara learns how to use her hot chilli temper for good to help dispel prejudice from both adults and other students in her school and community.  A sweet and inspirational story of friendship, family, and the importance of not choosing sides, taking the lead and working towards peace and understanding.

The message that really came through in the book for me was about not taking sides. So many issues are presented as being black and white without context or nuance. Finding out about the terrifying experiences of people from Gidi and Keren and Omer and Farrah makes the situation real and immediate. It is very important to be reminded of what people have gone through on and since October 7th.

Julie Loy : Librarian, Stoke Newington School and Sixth Form

 

 

 

I have just finished it and it made me cry twice.

 It is a perfect and important MG book, taking a very complicated situation and, in creating this particular story, you make it manageable for children. You inject hope into what seems an intractable situation happening very far away and show how someone, anyone can effect positive change.

You take something foreign and make it British, and thus relatable. And this is helpful for all children with complicated identities. It's hard to understand why one feels British and yet connected to Israel/Pakistan/Jamaica/wherever. So many children have these feelings and they are confusing in times of peace. But when there's a war all sorts of other feelings get involved; isolation, anger, despair.

 And you look tribalism square in the face, in all of its flattening one-dimensionality and dehumanisation, and reveal its negativity and power, and attractiveness especially for children, who want so badly to belong.

And you manage a happy ending and one which is believable at least in Abbey Wood School. Thank goodness! Thank you for managing a happy ending.

 Joanna de Guia : Educator, former librarian and bookseller.