Riki’s Secret

During the 1948 siege of Jerusalem, Ricky and his mother stay with his grandmother on the other side of town, which seems safer. Ricky’s taciturn older brother Benny and his father join the struggle, while the women and children settle down at Grandma’s.

Jerusalem is surrounded by the Arab Legion and the Iraqi army and is cut off completely, pounded by artillery fire day and night. There is no water, electricity or oil, nor is there meat, coffee or cigarettes. There are no guns or grenades but there is an endless supply of cheer, neighborly spirit and selfless sharing, as well as the comical types in which Jerusalem specializes. Ricky describes drawing water from Jerusalem’s old wells, learning to light fires and cook all kinds of soup. One day the siege is lifted. Ricky wanders in the rubble in Jerusalem and returns home to hear Benny’s footsteps at the door: the war has ended. This novel is a boy’s view of war spent at home, where terror is kept at bay by good humor and ingenious improvisation.