Running on Eggs

Running on Eggs by Levine, Anna. hardcover edition. ISBN: 9780812628753.

It all starts when Karen and Yasmine trade lunch boxes. Such an act would hardly raise eyebrows anywhere else, but Karen lives on an Israeli kibbutz and Yasmine in a nearby Palestinian village, and distrust between the two cultures runs deep. Karens father was killed several years ago in the war in Lebanon, and her family still hasnt fully accepted the loss. Karen focuses on running as a way to heal, and her place on the Arab-Israeli track team is something she holds dear. Yasmines family disapproves of her love for track, and when the coach wont allow her to run in a long skirt, Yasmines father forces her to drop out. But soon Yasmine and Karen begin meeting secretly to run together in "no mans land," a strip of woods that separates their communities. Karen is preparing for an important meet, and as Yasmine helps her train, she begins to view the sport as more than just an opportunity to win races. When their friendship is exposed, however, the consequences threaten to pull their communities even farther apart. Running on Eggs offers a frank portrayal of modern-day Israel and recounts the story of two girls whose loyalty to each other helps them overcome the obstacles in their path.