From critically acclaimed author Paul Mosier, a Publishers
Weekly Flying Start, comes a stunning story about the beauty of family,
the power of community, and ultimately the strength of the human
spirit.
Twelve-year-old El has planned on making her first week at a new school
fantastic. She won't go by her given name, Laughter. She'll sit in the
back of the classroom where she can make new friends. She won't even
have time to think about all the fun her old friends are having without
her. Everything will be great.
But when her dad picks her up after school and tells her that her
younger sister, Echo, has a life-threatening illness, her world is
suddenly turned upside down. And with her parents now pressed for time
and money, El feels lost and powerless.
Then she befriends Octavius, the only other kid in school who gets what
she's going through. As El begins to adjust to her new life, she soon
finds that maybe a little hope and a lot of love can overcome any
obstacle.