Boycott

Boycott: A Novel is centered on a fictional elite university campus outside Chicago. It takes place in the year before the Hamas massacre of Israelis on October 7, 2023.

The protagonists are college students affected by the campus BDS movement (boycott, divestment, sanctions of Israel). Some are supportive and others are in strong opposition. Through dialogue, much background information about the long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict is presented.

The two main characters are senior David Applebaum and freshman Rebecca Goldman. David wants Rebecca in his bed. Initially, she says no. But then something happens, and she reconsiders. Other characters include Michael Solomon, a Jewish convert to the Baháʼí faith, Gordon Geddy, the local BDS club leader, and a history professor who has a new book to explain the anti-Semitism on college campuses.

Early in the novel two FBI agents pay a visit to the school president's office. They relay concern about a possible terrorist attack on campus. Is BDS involved? Possibly.

Readers have found the novel both educational and entertaining. This edition has been retitled from the first publication. Below are some Amazon 5-star reviews from that edition.

"It reads like nonfiction but is paced like a thriller, with romance for dessert. I enjoyed this book and couldn't put it down. I am more than familiar with the Israeli-Hamas conflict and found a different lens of looking at the struggle. Timely, written before October 7. A must read."

"Explores important issues for Jews on American campuses. Entertaining read with lots of twists and turns. Relevant for Jewish students and their parents."

"...a very engaging and interesting novel. It focuses on the struggle of Jewish college students in the US dealing with the difficult issues of the Israel-Palestinian conflict and the rising Antisemitism in the US...a compelling narrative."

"The story flows naturally not only from the opinions of the characters, but also their personalities."