Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
A child narrator's personal attachment to a beloved tree deepens this unique narrative of literally carrying roots from one's homeland. When a family's goat gives birth to twins, the young protagonist, mourning not having anyone to play with, complains. "On the day you were born," Scott (Angela's Glacier) and Saeed (My Road from Damascus, for adults) write in Mom's voice, "we planted that apple tree in our front yard. You and the tree are twins. The apple tree is your sister." That night, the narrator tucks a blanket around the tree and sleeps with the window open to hear "my sister's leaves snore in the wind"; during the day, "I put toys on her roots, and we'd play together." But when war grows close and the family must leave, the narrator insists on digging up and carrying the tree. Watercolor and pen-and-ink illustrations from Marwan (Sakina and the Uninvited Guests) render the family, portrayed with pale skin and black hair, in tight inky lines, while the tree and the landscape flow with saturated colors, daubed strokes, and vivid washes in dark blues and lemon yellows. Tender care grounds a symbolic concept with conviction in this heartfelt picture book. Creators' notes conclude. Ages 4--8. Authors' agents: (for Saeed) Chris Casuccio, Westwood Creative Artists; (for Scott) Hilary McMahon, Westwood Creative Artists. Illustrator's agent: Anne Moore Armstrong, Bright Agency. (Sept.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2--A young boy lives a peaceful life in his village with his family. After their goat has twins, he asks his parents why they never had a twin with him, so he could have someone to play with. His parents tell him they planted an apple tree when he was born and that she was his sister. From then on, he treats the tree as his sister, leaving the window open at night so he can hear her snore and making her breakfast in the morning. He tells her everything he loves about their village and enjoys spending time together, all the while growing taller together. Suddenly, helicopters bomb their village and the young boy worries what will happen to his beloved sister, the apple tree. He ultimately decides to bring the tree with him, and his family as they flee. This book draws from the author's experiences and the apple tree that had to be left behind. Readers will appreciate this beautiful refugee story with a kid at its center who has to persevere in a difficult situation. The emotions behind the scenes are impeccably portrayed through the artist's use of color and minimal background. The boy's beloved apple tree becomes a bridge between his old life and his new life in a different country, acting as a source of comfort for him when he misses home. VERDICT This lovely refugee story of perseverance drawn from the author's experiences is a great purchase for picture book collections.--Myiesha Speight
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
An apple tree provides solace when a family must leave their homeland. The book's young narrator wants a twin, but Mom points out that the child does have a sibling of sorts--the apple tree that Mom and Dad planted in the yard on the day the youngster was born. The protagonist begins plying the tree with snacks, playing with her, and sharing secrets with her; each night, the little one wraps her in a blanket. When the village is attacked, the family must flee, but the child refuses to leave the tree behind. Digging the tree up, the child carries her through fires and dust and onto a plane as they leave their homeland forever. The protagonist replants the tree, and she thrives in a new environment, though the youngster yearns for home. Feelings of longing permeate this tender story, though it's also infused with hope as the youngster continues to confide in the tree. Marwan's soft artwork, rendered in watercolor and pen and ink, leans into the playful kinship between child and tree. Shifting from greens and blues to darker shadows, the palette embodies the sense of loss. Hints in the artwork suggest an Asian or Middle Eastern setting, though no specific region is mentioned. The authors and illustrator share their own migration stories in the backmatter. A poignant look at the human cost of wars and forced migration.(Picture book. 5-9) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
