Kalkidan

Kalkidan is a young boy who came to Israel from Ethiopia and lives with his family in Petah Tikva. His mother died during the difficult journey from Ethiopia and his grandfather remained there. The book opens with a family crisis: cheated by his employer, Kalkidan`s father loses all his money and property. Although he was the victim of a criminal scheme, he is arrested and his children are forced out of their apartment, becoming dependent on the social services. Kalkidan`s older sister, Avaza, is sent to a boarding school; Solomon, his young brother, goes to a foster family, and Kalkidan himself is adopted by the family of his best friend, Nissim. The book follows his life from this point until they are all reunited, and describes his fight for his family and the way he grows up.

Kalkidan is forced to face up to the everyday hardships of life in a society that is unwilling to accept the different culture and customs of the Ethiopian community. But in spite of all the difficulties, he remains true to his independent way. In the course of the story, he leaves his friend`s home in Petah Tikva and moves to Jerusalem to be closer to his father, who has been hospitalized for depression. He studies and works, helped by his friends and the social services. His visits help his father, and when he has recovered, they travel together to Ethiopia to see Kalkidan`s grandfather. Through his resourcefulness and determination, he succeeds in reuniting his family and the book ends with the grandfather coming to Israel for a visit.