*won a copy through Goodreads giveaway* 
 I admit to not knowing a great deal about the struggles between Israel and Palestine before reading this book. What I liked about it was that the book didn't focus on the political ideas, but rather on the effects on the people. Corasanti's characters are three-dimensional and the story rings true, despite the fact that it is a work of fiction. The author has managed to strike a balance between simplicity and complexity - the text is simply written (think Hemingway: short and to-the-point sentences), but Ichmad's journey and interrelationships with his family and friends is anything but simple. 
 An excellent read - one that deserves more recognition.