Of Love & Peace is a heartfelt and fast-paced novella that continues the story from the Light Passers Chronicles series, weaving a powerful tale of friendship, spiritual strength, and hope amid the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Set primarily in Gaza and Jerusalem, the book follows young characters like Liyah, Esty, and Ahmad—teenagers from opposing sides of the conflict—who work together, sometimes mystically, to resist violence and spread compassion. Through shifting perspectives and emotional journeys, Campelia blends fantasy with the grim realities of war, anchored in a deep desire for healing and peace in one of the world’s most fraught regions.

Campelia doesn’t write from a distance—this feels lived-in and relatable. You can sense his pain, especially in the preface and author’s note. He lays bare his admiration for caregivers and his disdain for cruelty, threading these values through his young characters. The writing style is direct and intimate, sometimes lyrical, often urgent. The dialogue feels natural, even when it’s brushing up against heavy ideas like generational trauma, betrayal, and moral courage. There’s an aching truth in Liyah’s disillusionment and Esty’s fierce love for her friend Hanna, especially as both girls struggle to find light in the darkness. At times, the mystical elements—like the being Ooray—felt a bit out of place, but they also served as a poetic escape, a needed counterbalance to the brutal real-world setting.

There were moments when the pace raced ahead. Events can happen suddenly, characters jump into danger or revelations, and then the story resets. It gave the book an episodic feel, which occasionally pulled me out of the emotional core. Still, there’s something refreshingly honest about this book. It doesn’t pretend to have easy answers, and it never demonizes one side or another. Instead, Campelia calls out extremists, regardless of background, and invites readers to imagine a world where love and peace aren’t slogans but real, hard-won possibilities.

I would recommend Of Love & Peace to anyone who wants a story with heart, especially young adult readers or educators who are looking for literature that humanizes the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. If you’re drawn to novels that mix grit with grace, or if you believe that stories can be weapons for peace, this one’s for you. It won’t fix the world, but it might make you believe we still have a shot at something better.

Pages: 236 | ASIN : B0D84DKQ44