I can scarcely do justice to Amy Wilentz's extraordinary first novel through a mere review. "Martyrs' Crossing" was the most haunting, touching work of fiction I have read in a very long time. No other novelistic treatment of the Middle East in recent years comes anywhere close to this book. What Ms. Wilentz offers is an insightful look at age-old causes that simply aren't amenable to conventional political and diplomatic interventions. She's captured her characters--Jews and Arabs alike--just right. What a moving book.