I normally wouldn't rate a book like this one with 5's, but the message and the author's commitment to tell a story like this, (knowing about her background and religious beliefs) really moved me. So I hope that by having a high rating more people read it, because being this one her first novel and not having the number of fans other authors have, this book deserves a chance. 
 The book tells the story of Ichmad, a 12 years old Palestinian boy who has a great mind for mathematics, but lives in a land where oportunities are slim, and he and his people are treated as an obstacle for the stablishment of the Jewish state of Israel. Ichmad has to face some tough challenges in his life, and has to make decisions that make him question his beliefs, ethics and moral values. 
 The almond tree doesn't beat about the bush, from the very begining charachters that are innocent and important to Ichmad get injured or killed and sometimes it seems that everything that could go wrong, goes even worse for him and his family, so this isn't a book for 	impressionable people. 
 The story telling seemed a little weak at some points, I felt that there were really important things that were "handled" way too abrupt, without much description, but other than that I really liked this book, and recommend it to everyone.