The novel is written in the form of a first-person narration of high school student Ada, her reconsideration of her past and present after her boyfriend Majk commits suicide. Ada comes from an orderly, but somewhat cold family - the girl feels that both parents are enough for themselves and only perform parental duties in relation to their daughters. But she has a warm relationship with her younger sister, even though she is her opposite - carefree and sociable. In contrast to her, Ada is excessively worried, and as a top violinist, she doesn't even have time to socialize. The closest thing to her is the language of music and her instrument, which in elementary school soon becomes the basis for teasing among peers. In high school, she does better in this respect, but everything is really changed only by Mike, a karate player and guitarist, with whom she is able to live a slightly different life. Until one day he dies and Ada is left alone again; with a multitude of questions, with a sense of guilt and violent emotions that range from sadness to anger. Why, why, why? Through the narrative, love story slowly unfolds before the reader, as well as their life stories before it, including Majk's psychological problems. The Ballad of a Tree is a poignant, extremely powerful book about dealing with loss, trying to accept the unacceptable, and understanding the incomprehensible.