Insightful writings of Israeli teen bring hope for peace in

The Bat-Chen Diaries

In March 1996, Bat-Chen Shahak was killed by a suicide bomber in Tel Aviv's Dizengoff Center. It was Purim, and it was her 15th birthday. But the gifted teenager left behind a rich legacy of diaries, letters, poems, and drawings. The Bat-Chen Diaries are the first English translation of her writings which have been published in Hebrew, Arabic, Japanese, German and Dutch.

Bat-Chen wrote about teachers and friends, the angst of young love, and her yearning for peace in the world. There are cards to her Arab pen-pal, a thank you note to her ear doctor, a letter of sympathy to Leah Rabin when her husband, the country's Prime Minister, was assassinated.

Animated with the young girl's drawings and doodles, as well as photos of family and friends, the book captures the life of a sensitive teenager living in a country not yet at peace.

Kar-Ben Publishing, a division of Lerner Publishing Group, creates award-winning children’s titles on Jewish themes, including holiday books, folktales, craft books, contemporary stories and picture books.

# # #

The Bat-Chen Diaries

By Bat-Chen Shahak

$17.95 jacketed hardcover

978-0-8225-8807-8 

$7.95 paperback

978-0-8225-7223-7 

Color and black & white photographs and drawings

Ages 10-12, Grades 5-8

112 pages, 6 ¾ x 9

Kar-Ben Publishing,

a division of

Lerner Publishing Group

To Purchase:

Visit your Judaica

gift shop or bookstore,

or order by phone

800-4KARBEN

www.karben.com