It's rare that a work manages to be a travel narrative, epistolary, AND a graphic novel. Green Almonds illustrates the letters sent to the author by her younger sister during a 10 month stay in Palestine. It is at times tragic but never fails to be compelling.

This is an interesting story told in graphic novel form, of a trip to Israel and Palestine by one of a pair of sisters (Anaële the writer), the other sister (Delphine the artist) remaining in Belgium. I never did get out of it why the one sister went and not the other, or how she financed her trip which lasted ten months, or what the actual reason was for her trip!

The other thing that was missing was any sense of history which would have put the present circumstances into perspective. This conflict (which is much too polite a word for it) between these two peoples, and which has religion at its root, did not arise yesterday! It's been going on for centuries, but most notably since 1948 when Palestine, as it was then, was carved into two, with the Palestinians being given what is now known as Jordan, and the Israelis being given a sliver of land along the Mediterranean coast.

On the day Israel was effectively created, it was invaded by four Arab nations (later joined by four others) and yet it held its own without outside help from anyone. It's been under siege ever since, with a continual rain of rockets and mortars (well over ten thousand combined) onto Israeli territory which has been beset by terrorist attacks for some seventy years.

Over just the last two decades, these attacks have killed over two dozen Israeli civilians, five foreign nationals, at least eleven Palestinians, and only five Israeli soldiers. None of this is ever mentioned in these stories. The wall which looms large, both figuratively and literally in this story is a direct outcome of these attacks, yet none of this is ever mentioned in stories like these.

None of this excuses the Israeli behavior towards innocent Palestinians, either, which is quite flatly inexcusable, but it does put it in context. This story focuses on Palestinian deprivations and hardships, and on efforts by both Palestinians and Israelis to address the conflict. For that reason, because it gives a different and very personal perspective and about country I have also traveled in (Israel) and visited many of the places mentioned here, I consider it a worthy read, because it tells a story which definitely needs to be told, and which was both saddening and heartwarming in almost equal measures.

I really enjoyed this graphic novel. I liked that Anaele told the story of her time in Palestine through correspondence with her sister in Belgium. Even though her descriptions aren't very detailed, it is a good way to start learning about the culture and political issues in Palestine.

I appreciated this opportunity to learn more about this region, its history, its people, and one woman's experience and perspective on it all. I also appreciated the graphic novel format - it allowed me to take in a really heavy subject in smaller bites. This story offers a glimpse many of us don't see, and it's a way in to a bigger, more complicated reality.

One of the things that really struck me about this story is how life can be so complicated and overwhelming in one place in the world and be totally serene in another. You really get the juxtaposition of these two sisters' realities - one in Palestine and one in Belgium. It is so valuable for those of us who are not living under everyday stressful conditions to be aware.

I look forward to having a copy of this in my classroom library. Thank you NetGalley and Diamond Book Distributors for making it possible for educators to read advance copies of books.

A story about a woman from Belgium who travels to Bethlehem as a volunteer for six months, told as a series of letters between the woman and her sister. who is still in Belgium. The unique part of it is that the author is the real volunteer, and her sister is the illustrator of this book.

Thanks to Delphine words and her sister Anele's art, readers are able to encounter Palestine as she did. And as we watch her meet new people and make new friends, explore the land, and try and carry on with her work, we are able to see an outsider's on-the-ground experience of the structural violence that hangs so heavily upon the lives of the Palestinians, at times making them prisoners within their own land. Delphine's memoir of her time abroad makes for an eye-opening and sobering read, which only becomes even more so when one realizes that this all take place in 2008; and if the news over the years is any indicator, the last few years have only been more of the same oppressive system we see through the author's eyes.

This is a great addition to any library or personal graphic novel collection.

Overall Verdict : Go for it.
It's an amazing travelogue between two sisters. I found the concept really interesting. Its a must read. It leaves one sentient about Palestine in a remarkable way. There are some issues in places, I found that both sisters were just talking about what's going on their ends and were dismissive about the life another person is living. Delphine, for instance, did not follow back on a lot of things. Even Anaele did not ask about people she had left behind while she continued her life in Palestine. I felt some broken links are their and somethings are omitted to keep the focus on what's going on in Palestine. Overall, it is great. The moment I started reading it I could not put it down.

Amazing travelogue, if you could call it that, of a Anaele's letters to her sister back in Belgium, of her time as an NGO in Palestine. She lives on the <em>side</em> of the wall. She sees what is going on from the Palestinians point of view. One of the most striking things she hears over and over is that, oh, it is normal.

Oh, it is normal to be shot, if you go outside, on a hill.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-577" src="http://www.reyes-sinclair.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Screen-Shot-2018-06-08-at-3.39.28-PM.png" alt="" />

Or, it is normal to come face to face with a solider when you are walking in a shopping area.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-576" src="http://www.reyes-sinclair.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Screen-Shot-2018-06-08-at-3.43.23-PM.png" alt="" />

One reviewer didn't like the little light postcards that mark each new section that came from Anaele's sister. Little things like watching the barges, or smelling the flowers.

Sad, gripping, and well written. Held my attention when I should have been working, and just wanted to peak at how it was, for later, don't you know, and then found myself reading the whole thing.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

An interesting graphic novel centered around the wars in the Middle East. The art style is alright. Not really for me.