Product Description

In April 2003, twenty-one-year-old English photojournalism student Tom Hurndall was shot in the head as he was rescuing a Palestinian child in the town of Rafah in the Gaza Strip. Here is Tom's mother's account of his courageous quest, its tragic end and a devastated family's struggle for justice in a case that made legal history. It is an elegy for a son, full of loss but also of hope. Written with honesty, dignity and insight, this moving story of a remarkable young man, a mother's love, and a devoted family gives a human face to a conflict that, directly and indirectly, affects us all.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #529092 in Books
• Published on: 2008-05-05
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

Review
'This intimate and profoundly moving book by Tom's mother serves as a memorial to a kind, gentle and talented son' Daily Mail 'A very raw and honest emotional illustration of the depth of such a turn of events Readers become part of the family, bewildered and shocked by the impact of the tragic news, feeling lost, watching other family members as they frantically try and decide the right steps to take' Emel Magazine 'When Tom Hurndall was shot, his mother showed amazing courage in her determination to get to the truth. Her book evokes with great clarity and emotion the months and years in which her family was transformed' Palestine News 'Moving and wonderfully elegant It would be a mistake to portray this book as political Her description and remembrances of her beloved son provoke tears. This book is a mother's lament' Camden New Journal

About the Author
Jocelyn Hurndall was born in Winchester in 1951. In the early 1970s she worked as kibbutz volunteer on the Israeli/Lebanese border and travelled through the West Bank to Jerusalem, where her father had worked as a pioneer of wave energy in the early 1960s. She began a career as a teacher in 1974, eventually becoming Head of Learning Support in a multi-cultural school. She lives in London with her family.

Customer Reviews

An unforgettable, compelling story
A deeply moving, unforgettable story of a family tragedy, which is written with sensitivity and graciousness, a compelling read with great depth. How difficult it is to have justice in a country where denial is uppermost without the support of friends, diplomats, the generosity and the kindness of many people, including Palestinian and Israeli. The journey taken by Jocelyn Hurndall and her family after her eldest son Tom was shot in Gaza by an IDF soldier, sustaining severe brain damage, turned out to be formidable. The anguish experienced by the family, also has rich, positive moments. I highly recommend this book for the many insights provided. For the courageous commitment to seeking the truth by both parents, and yes, it does make one weep.

This is a story that will linger with you. Jocelyn Hurndall is a writer of considerable talent. Tom's presence through snippets from his diaries, photographs, and his mother's memories, is poignant and always engaging. Since reading the book, I purchased more copies for family and friends.

A book that is both inspiring and moving in the face of brutal inhumanity
I was led to reading this is a haunting, beautiful book about a mother's loss of her son by the TV film made about the events documented in it. The reader will gain much more in reading this book, things touched on in the film are explained in depth in the book. I have lost count of the number of times I was moved to tears during the reading of this book or had to put it down to think back on something moving that was said and maybe read back again through a passage. Jocelyn grows in strength of courage and her sympathy and understanding for her family and how each must deal with their grief in their own way is inspiring and especially to the many of us who have been down that road. She develops a love and friendship both with many of the beleaguered Palestinians living under a state of perpetual siege in Gaza who only want their children to grow up in safety and go to school in surely one of the most dangerous places on earth to be raised, but also with the many Israeli friends she met who deplore the actions of their government. . You gain an insight into the everyday lives of Palestinians in Gaza and the security checkpoints, the house demolitions and the barriers that are a feature of everyday life. Jocelyn all the times compares her pain to the everyday pain of Gaza and it's inhabitants especially its children. Tom's death was not just one of true courage and selfless heroism but one that inspired his mother and family to continue his work for Palestine and it's children so that their dreams of peace and statehood might be fulfilled. A truly magical and inspiring book that I cannot recommend enough.

A tragic tale of loss
This book isn't really about the troubles, it isn't about politics and definitely isn't a book that provides a balanced view of the conflict. It is however one of the most moving books I've read in some time, a mother losing her child must be one of the most tragic events going and this book provides the narrative to this painful process. Although it is an emotional read you don't finish it depressed it left me with a huge amount if respect for the author and anyone who has lost loved ones in combat.