From the New York Times bestselling author of Counting by 7s comes
a heartfelt story about the importance of compassion and bravery when
facing life's challenges" (Kirkus) for fans of The One and Only Ivan
and Front Desk.
It's been almost a year since Sila's mother traveled halfway around the
world to Turkey, hoping to secure the immigration paperwork that would
allow her to return to her family in the United States.
The long separation is almost impossible for Sila to withstand. But
things change when Sila accompanies her father (who is a mechanic)
outside their Oregon town to fix a truck. There, behind an enormous
stone wall, she meets a grandfatherly man who only months before won the
state lottery. Their new alliance leads to the rescue of a circus
elephant named Veda, and then to a friendship with an unusual boy named
Mateo, proving that comfort and hope come in the most unlikely of
places.
A moving story of family separation and the importance of the connection
between animals and humans, this novel has the enormous heart and
uplifting humor that readers have come to expect from the beloved author
of Counting by 7s.
"I couldn't stop reading--I had to find out what would happen. An
unusual and lovely real-life fairy tale." *--*Linda Sue Park, New
York Times Bestselling author of A Long Walk to Water
"A gorgeous and emotional novel. I loved every page." --Cynthia
Kadohata, Newbery Medal-winning author of *Kira-Kira
*
