As a class, look at images of the West Bank Barrier or “wall” online, to give students an impression of what it is really like. Then, working with an adult if necessary, have students use resources from the library and internet to write a short research paper on the history of the wall. What is the wall and what is it intended to do? What have been the results of building the wall? What has been the impact on the communities it separates? Have students break into pairs to share their work and revise based on peer feedback. After students have completed their papers, discuss their research, as well as the role of the wall in this novel. What does Clare as a cat say about the wall? What does Aaron say about it? What happens to Omar’s parents as a result of the wall?
