Books Like Gulf
Families who loved Gulf by Robert Westall often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
Families who loved Gulf by Robert Westall often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
Reach for this book when your child is struggling to process the heavy news of global conflict or when they are showing an intense, almost overwhelming empathy for others. It is an ideal choice for adolescents who are starting to question the 'us versus them' narrative of war and need a safe space to explore the human cost of geopolitics. The story follows Tom, whose younger brother Figgy begins to mentally inhabit the life of an Iraqi boy during the Gulf War, leading to a family crisis that blurs the line between mental illness and supernatural connection. It is a profound exploration of sibling bonds and the psychological weight of being a witness to suffering. While the themes are sophisticated, the writing is accessible for middle schoolers. It serves as a powerful tool for discussing how we relate to people in distant lands who are often dehumanized in the media.
