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The Lonely Tree

Yael Politis

A great love story set against the violent birth of a nation.

Sample Passages

That’s him, her Amos
A letter from Over There
Goodbye forever?

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Summary

Tonia is not sure about living in her country, this ‘not-even-a-country’. This is reflected in her love- hate relation with her father Josef, a most staunch supporter of this promised land.

Why? Well first of all Josef asks his small family, his wife Leah, Rina, Natan and Tonia, to live with Uncle Shmuel and Aunt Rivka in their tiny apartment in Tel Aviv. Tonia thinks it is even worse when he takes his family off to his beloved kibbutz, Kfar Etzion.

Life during Israel’s struggle for independence is harsh. Yet the hikes Josef organises for just the five of them are exhausting but magical. Throughout, the news from Europe is growing more and more alarming.

Tonia creates her own world by finding an ingenious way of enrolling in the coveted Gymnasium in Jerusalem and by dreaming about her ideal home. It is a dream house in America, full of bright lights with plenty of water and a kitchen with a large wooden table to entertain her family.

And then she meets Amos, tall with ever so long legs and dark complexion, her ‘Italian boy’. Both have their hearts set on different ideals, yet they are unmistakably drawn to each other.

They make an interesting pair. Amos Amrani is a handsome and exotic Yemenite who fights in the Jewish underground. Tonia Shulman, whose family is from Poland, longs for security and comfort.

This new beginning is brutally interrupted when Kfar Etzion is besieged. A moving description of the desperate fight for and surrender of Kfar Etzion, a true story, forms the heart of this remarkable book.

In spite of her great personal loss, Tonia is still keen to leave the country. Even though she now knows she has always loved her father, she has not yet understood his true legacy.

Tonia, although still attracted to Amos, also wants to make her own way in life and is not ready to follow this charming but highly traditional man. She makes a great sacrifice in order to realise her dream.

She rejects Amos. In Grand Rapids, Michigan, she turns out to be a successful business woman and even manages to buy her dream house.

But what is a house without family? What about Amos? Tonia thinks it is very unlikely that he could have waited for her.

Will Tonia find her true heritage?

The Lonely Tree gives you the answers.
A compelling and moving story about the soul of Israel.

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£14.99 - US$23.99 - €17.50

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ISBN: 978-1-907320-08-8
Number of pages: 443
Price: £14.99
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What was said about The Lonely Tree

'The author’s writing style is excellent, it flows well and tells the story in such a way that it is immediately interesting.'

'…Yael Politis is an excellent author who really knows how to make a story readable, this is a book that everyone should read at some point.'

From the review on Curious Book Fans

'Politis’ style is restrained, economical and mostly understated. She is a remarkably unobtrusive author. I believe that you will find not a single dull paragraph in this entire work. It is a gripping insight into the psyche of several different kinds of person, a vivid account of the forces that drive both human idealism and human destructiveness.'

From the review in the next issue of Gold Dust magazine.

'It is also a story about the importance of family that is, ... a badly needed reminder in our increasingly secular, disconnected world.'

'... it is the story of a group of people who hate war and take up the sword only because their Arab neighbors refuse to let them live in peace, and a reminder that the most powerful weapon Israel has, is hope.'

From the review on Aaron Hecht's blog.

'The Lonely Tree, movingly written by rising author Yael Politis, is an important contribution to Jewish and Zionist literature.' Jewish Tribune Canada

'...I recommend this book..... at 443 pages, I finished this book in a couple of days...' Valerie McInroe on her blog Life is a Patchwork Quilt.

The Lonely Tree won one the of YouWriteOn book of the Year 2009 awards.

'The judging panel and YouWriteOn readers alike agreed that The Lonely Tree is really a great read, carrying the reader along with a unique and intelligent story...' - Edward Smith, manager of YouWriteOn

'The historical setting, the atmosphere and dialogues are so authentic,... This is a mature, vivid story, great material for a motion picture.' - Rivka Keren (Kati) on YouWriteOn

'... writing is powerful, evocative and extremely moving. Tonia is wholly credible ... the reader is drawn into her world...' - Ann Nibbs on You WriteOne

'Tonia's character is very well drawn and the reader immediately empathises with her.' - Elaine Hankin (EDH) on YouWriteOn

'The tensions of living under constant fear in the Settlement is captured perfectly' - Neil A Randall on YouWriteOn

'I was riveted. I was right there in all the action...' - Erich Orser (Squid) on YouWriteOn

'...has a steady pace, perfect characterisation and the establishment of the settings can only come from personal experience.' - Prue Batten (Taggie01) on YouWriteOn

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Background Information