When I was almost finished, I started consciously slowing down my reading of THE PEOPLE OF FOREVER ARE NOT AFRAID because I was so unhappy at the idea of this book's ending. Shani Boainjiu has written an extraordinary novel about Israeli youth who are a generation removed from their country's turbulent political genesis, and are now trying to navigate the universal act of coming of age in the midst of an ancient conflict they have coincidentally inherited. Three girls - Yael, Avishag, and Lea - pass the story telling around like one of their childhood games of Exquisite Corpse, unpacking juvenile ennui alongside very real and immediate war. There are few books out there that will bind you as closely to its protagonists as this one does. I recommend getting an extra copy for a friend, because you will want to discuss this with someone after you've finished.