It was published in 2021 by Owlkids and won the 2022 Governor General’s Literary Award for Young People's Literature – Illustrated Books.

The Sour Cherry Tree won the 2022 Governor General's Award for Young People's Literature – Illustrated Books.

Reviewer Simone Dalton writes in the magazine Quill & Quire, "The Sour Cherry Tree lives on beyond the page.

"[3] As published in Kirkus Reviews, "Hrab’s narrative captures a child’s understanding of loss with gentle subtlety and gives space for processing those feelings."

adding, "Kazemi’s chalk pastel art pairs perfectly with the text and title.