The Almond Tree written by Michelle Cohen Corasanti is a fictional account of one familys struggle to overcome adversity. Utilizing knowledge of the geo-political history of Israel and Palestine, the author builds a dramatic and interesting background that makes the events believable and dramatic.

The story centers on Ichmad Hamid who grows up in an occupied country where he and his family are unwelcome and hated. Through the course of his life, we see him respond to injustice, grief and other violent losses with perseverance and intelligence following the example and wisdom of his father.

This inspiring journey of rising above devastating circumstances, refusing to resort to hate and finally finding a platform of peace is a well-written work of hope allowing the reader to walk in the shoes of another perspective.

A remarkable novel with a powerful message simply communicated.

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I won this book through the Goodreads First-reads giveaway.

I assume you have read the description of this book so I will not summarize the plot.

This was a hard book to read and even harder to put down. It's not a light read - there is violence and heartbreak and sadness but that's what makes it so engaging. I don't know if a reader can come away from this book without feeling more aware of how much harder life can be. At he same time the lead character has so much love and honor and compassion that it makes you want to try harder to be a better person. As a person who was raised catholic with a Jewish aunt, uncle and cousins as well as an Arabic best friend, this book open my eyes even more to Middle Eastern conflicts and tragedies and I would definitely recommend it to anyone and everyone.

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This book sheds light on the disgusting violence and human rights violations that have been committed against Arabic Palestinians since the 1940s. It shows the damage hatred can create, but it is also a story about great love and great sacrifice, about honoring one's roots while being true to one's self, about choosing peace instead of vengeance.

A mathematical genius, Ichmad Hamid grows up as the oldest son in an Arabic family living in a ravaged village of the Jewish-occupied Palestine. He and his family must endure brutal violence and great loss, but through it all Ichmad's noble father teaches him to treat his enemies with sympathy instead of hatred and to embrace his strengths to make something of himself against all odds.

I found this well-written book to be very enlightening and inspiring. The ideas presented in this story have the power to change the world!

I received this book free through Goodreads First Reads.

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After being persecuted for decades, even centuries, how would a victimized culture finally handle being in control? I dont know, and this is not the book of explanations. This is the story of those held back by the persecuted that have now become as hardened, paranoid and militarized as any group that ever mistreated them. This is the Palestinian point of view. One which I have only ever thought of as pitching rocks against machine guns. It is painful in its honesty, but still offers hope that we all might one day see the irrational attitudes that make it necessary to hold one group down in order to raise another. I put the book down wanting to know more about this constant struggle but also touched by the characters that rose from the page and carefully explained their hopes and fears, dreams and disasters and made me believe that there is always something any one of us can do to make this world a better place. It is a fascinating story, with captivating people living through a history that can easily be believed to be hell on earth, just needing a little help to survive, much less overcome burdens no one should be forced to shoulder. Michelle Cohen Corasanti offers a chance to see families and not monsters caught in the cross-fire of modern politics.

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