First published 2020
Writer Michael T. McRay journeys to some of the world's most divided regions to collect stories of reconciliation. He travels to Israel and Palestine, Northern Ireland, and South Africa, seeking out activists, peacebuilders, and former combatants willing to share their experiences. McRay sits with grieving parents who have joined forces across battle lines, listens to a woman describe meeting the person who killed her father, and learns from a man who uses theater to fight oppression. These conversations reveal how people move from conflict toward justice and healing. McRay examines whether violence must always answer violence, whether safety comes from more weapons and barriers, and whether one group's belonging requires another's exclusion. The book challenges readers to consider what these true accounts of reconciliation might teach about bridging divisions in their own communities and lives.
Genres: politics, non-fiction, biography-memoir, current-affairs, social-justice, activism
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, redemption
Setting: Israel, Northern Ireland, Palestine, South Africa
256 pages · Paperback · Herald Press