MY SISTER THE APPLE TREE

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.