The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak

The Island of Missing Trees by Elif ShafakTwo teenagers, a Greek Cypriot and a Turkish Cypriot, meet at a taverna on the island they both call home. The taverna is the only place that Kostas and Defne can meet in secret, hidden beneath the blackened beams from which hang garlands of garlic and chilli peppers, creeping honeysuckle, and in the centre, growing through a cavity in the roof, a fig tree. The fig tree witnesses their hushed, happy meetings; their silent, surreptitious departures.

Then prominent local Charles Bourgoyne is bashed and left for dead

including its land

unvarnished saga of faith

Do you get the sense that something's just not quite right with Mum

She returns home for his burial

and helps kids understand acceptance and equality

overcome myriad monstrous perils

some of them convicts and some of them free

She talks candidly of the moving valour of her burns patients

Over 100 rare photographs are included

and demonstrates the ongoing importance of sociality

Sophie and her allies must join forces in ways they never have before