Author: Susanne O'Leary
Publisher: Sandy Cove
ISBN: 9781786818614
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 276
Book Description
A heart-warming novel about the bond between sisters, set along Ireland's windswept shores, where romance beckons and secrets unfold... Roisin McKenna and her husband Cian are taking time apart. Unsure of what she wants, Roisin's prayers are answered when she receives a call from her sister Maeve who is desperate for her help. Roisin heads to Sandy Cove to help Maeve restore their aunt's gorgeous tumbledown mansion Willow House and soon all she has time to focus on are its crumbling walls. Despite a shocking announcement from Maeve and hidden secrets in the house's rafters, Roisin begins to feel a sense of self she's been missing for years. The ties that bind Roisin to her husband seem to be unfurling in the Irish wind, when she unexpectedly stumbles into a mysterious man on the beach. Suddenly, she's swept up in the idea of another life she could lead... The restoration may have brought the sisters back together, but as a storm rolls over the coast Roisin feels sure she must make a choice. Will her time at Willow House teach her the precious lessons she needs to return home or has the cove called to her in ways she'd never imagined it could? Fans of Sheila O'Flanagan, Debbie Macomber and Mary Alice Monroe will be swept away by Sandy Cove. What readers are saying about Susanne O'Leary: 'I couldn't put this down! Absolutely delightful!... Great read on a rainy day or a vacation read!!!! Loved this!' Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars 'What a wonderful read this was!... The definition of feel-good - reading it felt like sunshine... The first 'feel-good' novel I've read this year that actually made me feel good... I just couldn't put it away.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'Excellent... A totally captivating book from the first page, I laughed out loud at many parts and shed a few tears in others, a real hug in a book.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'Loved this! So many emotional twists I couldn't put this down! Absolutely delightful!... Great read on a rainy day or a vacation read!!!!' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'Oh, this was a lovely story... A lovely vacation read with plenty of heart and opportunity, choices and chances, and lots of laughter and healing, make this a book that is hard to put down and harder to forget. Grab this for an escape into places that everyone wants: timeless, accepting and supportive, with heart, laughter and love, sure to put a smile on your face.' I Am, Indeed 'A great summer read... This book will put you right in the mood for the Irish scenic countryside... If you enjoy heartwarming romances like Cathy Bramley, you'll enjoy this book!' Goodreads reviewer 'This book is exactly what the cover and title promise: a beautiful house and a better beach... You can almost feel the sea air when you read this book. Perfect vacation fare.' Goodreads reviewer
Sisters of Willow House: Utterly Heart-warming, Feel-good Irish Fiction
Dreams of Willow House
Author: Susanne O'Leary
Publisher: Sandy Cove
ISBN: 9781786818638
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 272
Book Description
A gorgeous, compelling page-turner about one woman's journey to the heart of Ireland and the family secret she's destined to discover... Cordelia Mirafiore has never truly felt at home in South Florida, so when she's unexpectedly called to the reading of a long-lost relative's will in Ireland, she's hopeful that escaping to Willow House to meet her family might help her to figure out who she really is... As soon as Cordelia reaches Sandy Cove, the views of the blue ocean and stunning coastline around her provide a sense of calm she has never felt before. She meets her cousins Maeve and Roisin, who welcome her with open arms, finds herself drawn to a handsome man who is also an outsider in town, and feels an instant spark. But the rest of the McKenna family aren't so willing to accept Cordelia, or even believe that she's family. When they learn that Cordelia is to inherit a third of Willow House, she is forced to prove who she is. All she has are old parish records and a battered box of family photographs, but they lead her to secrets she may not want to uncover. Can Cordelia find the courage to face her family's past? Can she trust the mysterious man who has swept her off her feet? Or will the lies told for generations force her to leave Sandy Cove forever? Second chances begin on Ireland's shores. An unforgettable story about mothers and daughters, Dreams of Willow House is perfect for fans of Sheila O'Flanagan, Debbie Macomber and Mary Alice Monroe. Readers love Susanne O'Leary! 'Excellent... A totally captivating book from the first page, I laughed out loud at many parts and shed a few tears in others, a real hug in a book.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'I couldn't put this down! Absolutely delightful!... Great read on a rainy day or a vacation read!!!! Loved this!' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'What a wonderful read this was!... The definition of feel-good - reading it felt like sunshine... The first 'feel-good' novel I've read this year that actually made me feel good... I just couldn't put it away.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'Oh, this was a lovely story... A lovely vacation read with plenty of heart... lots of laughter and healing make this a book that is hard to put down and harder to forget... sure to put a smile on your face.' I Am, Indeed 'Another enchanting read from Susanne O'Leary and I'm delighted to learn it is the start of a series. I can't wait to return to Sandy Cove.' Rachel's Random Reads, 5 stars 'I really enjoyed reading this book. I was hooked from the very first page to the very last. I recommend this book to others. You are going to enjoy it just as much as I did.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'This is the first book that I have read of Susanne O'Learys but it certainly won't be the last, I loved every word of it.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'What an enchanting story, one I really couldn't put down.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars
Publisher: Sandy Cove
ISBN: 9781786818638
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 272
Book Description
A gorgeous, compelling page-turner about one woman's journey to the heart of Ireland and the family secret she's destined to discover... Cordelia Mirafiore has never truly felt at home in South Florida, so when she's unexpectedly called to the reading of a long-lost relative's will in Ireland, she's hopeful that escaping to Willow House to meet her family might help her to figure out who she really is... As soon as Cordelia reaches Sandy Cove, the views of the blue ocean and stunning coastline around her provide a sense of calm she has never felt before. She meets her cousins Maeve and Roisin, who welcome her with open arms, finds herself drawn to a handsome man who is also an outsider in town, and feels an instant spark. But the rest of the McKenna family aren't so willing to accept Cordelia, or even believe that she's family. When they learn that Cordelia is to inherit a third of Willow House, she is forced to prove who she is. All she has are old parish records and a battered box of family photographs, but they lead her to secrets she may not want to uncover. Can Cordelia find the courage to face her family's past? Can she trust the mysterious man who has swept her off her feet? Or will the lies told for generations force her to leave Sandy Cove forever? Second chances begin on Ireland's shores. An unforgettable story about mothers and daughters, Dreams of Willow House is perfect for fans of Sheila O'Flanagan, Debbie Macomber and Mary Alice Monroe. Readers love Susanne O'Leary! 'Excellent... A totally captivating book from the first page, I laughed out loud at many parts and shed a few tears in others, a real hug in a book.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'I couldn't put this down! Absolutely delightful!... Great read on a rainy day or a vacation read!!!! Loved this!' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'What a wonderful read this was!... The definition of feel-good - reading it felt like sunshine... The first 'feel-good' novel I've read this year that actually made me feel good... I just couldn't put it away.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'Oh, this was a lovely story... A lovely vacation read with plenty of heart... lots of laughter and healing make this a book that is hard to put down and harder to forget... sure to put a smile on your face.' I Am, Indeed 'Another enchanting read from Susanne O'Leary and I'm delighted to learn it is the start of a series. I can't wait to return to Sandy Cove.' Rachel's Random Reads, 5 stars 'I really enjoyed reading this book. I was hooked from the very first page to the very last. I recommend this book to others. You are going to enjoy it just as much as I did.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'This is the first book that I have read of Susanne O'Learys but it certainly won't be the last, I loved every word of it.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'What an enchanting story, one I really couldn't put down.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars
The Witch of Willow Hall
Author: Hester Fox
Publisher: Harlequin
ISBN: 1488096740
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 394
Book Description
"Steeped in Gothic eeriness."--Nicola Cornick, USA Today bestselling author In Salem, they burned. Now, they will rise. New Oldbury, 1821 The house holds its breath, trying to outlast me… Something has awakened in Willow Hall. Eighteen-year-old Lydia Montrose can feel it. But she has no idea what it is. Rocked by rumor and scandal, Lydia, her parents, and her sisters, Catherine and Emeline, fled their sparkling life in Boston for the sleepy country estate. But bone-chilling noises in the night have Lydia convinced their idyllic new home wasn’t exactly vacant when they arrived. The Salem witch trials cast a long shadow over the Montrose family as the cloying heat of summer in Massachusetts mingles with something sinister in the air. The sprawling history of Willow Hall is no stranger to secrets, and its dark past soon calls to Lydia, igniting ancient magic she never knew she possessed. But with menacing forces unwilling to rest, threatening to tear her family apart, Lydia must learn to harness her newly discovered power or risk losing everyone she holds dear. Don't miss Hester Fox's next novel, THE BOOK OF THORNS, where two sisters who never knew the other existed meet on opposite sides during the Napoleonic Wars and must use the magic of flowers to solve the mystery of their mother’s death—while surviving the war raging around them... Look for these other gothic mysteries from Hester Fox: The Last Heir to Blackwood Library The Widow of Pale Harbor The Orphan of Cemetery Hill A Lullaby for Witches
Publisher: Harlequin
ISBN: 1488096740
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 394
Book Description
"Steeped in Gothic eeriness."--Nicola Cornick, USA Today bestselling author In Salem, they burned. Now, they will rise. New Oldbury, 1821 The house holds its breath, trying to outlast me… Something has awakened in Willow Hall. Eighteen-year-old Lydia Montrose can feel it. But she has no idea what it is. Rocked by rumor and scandal, Lydia, her parents, and her sisters, Catherine and Emeline, fled their sparkling life in Boston for the sleepy country estate. But bone-chilling noises in the night have Lydia convinced their idyllic new home wasn’t exactly vacant when they arrived. The Salem witch trials cast a long shadow over the Montrose family as the cloying heat of summer in Massachusetts mingles with something sinister in the air. The sprawling history of Willow Hall is no stranger to secrets, and its dark past soon calls to Lydia, igniting ancient magic she never knew she possessed. But with menacing forces unwilling to rest, threatening to tear her family apart, Lydia must learn to harness her newly discovered power or risk losing everyone she holds dear. Don't miss Hester Fox's next novel, THE BOOK OF THORNS, where two sisters who never knew the other existed meet on opposite sides during the Napoleonic Wars and must use the magic of flowers to solve the mystery of their mother’s death—while surviving the war raging around them... Look for these other gothic mysteries from Hester Fox: The Last Heir to Blackwood Library The Widow of Pale Harbor The Orphan of Cemetery Hill A Lullaby for Witches
3 Willows
Author: Ann Brashares
Publisher: Delacorte Press
ISBN: 0385738137
Category : Young Adult Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 338
Book Description
In this follow-up novel to the #1 New York Times bestselling Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series, it's time to discover a new sisterhood. A story of growing up, friendship, and understanding yourself, about three girls enjoying one last summer before high school. summer is a time to grow seeds Polly has an idea that she can't stop thinking about, one that involves changing a few things about herself. She's setting her sights on a more glamorous life, but it's going to take all of her focus. At least that way she won't have to watch her friends moving so far ahead. roots Jo is spending the summer at her family's beach house, working as a busgirl and bonding with the older, cooler girls she'll see at high school come September. She didn't count on a brief fling with a cute boy changing her entire summer. Or feeling embarrassed by her middle school friends. And she didn't count on her family at all. . . leaves Ama is not an outdoorsy girl. She wanted to be at an academic camp, doing research in an air-conditioned library, earning A's. Instead her summer scholarship lands her on a wilderness trip full of flirting teenagers, blisters, impossible hiking trails, and a sad lack of hair products. “Brashares gets her characters’ emotions and interactions just right.” --Publishers Weekly "Like the previous Pants books, this one will travel from girl to girl." --Kirkus Reviews
Publisher: Delacorte Press
ISBN: 0385738137
Category : Young Adult Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 338
Book Description
In this follow-up novel to the #1 New York Times bestselling Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series, it's time to discover a new sisterhood. A story of growing up, friendship, and understanding yourself, about three girls enjoying one last summer before high school. summer is a time to grow seeds Polly has an idea that she can't stop thinking about, one that involves changing a few things about herself. She's setting her sights on a more glamorous life, but it's going to take all of her focus. At least that way she won't have to watch her friends moving so far ahead. roots Jo is spending the summer at her family's beach house, working as a busgirl and bonding with the older, cooler girls she'll see at high school come September. She didn't count on a brief fling with a cute boy changing her entire summer. Or feeling embarrassed by her middle school friends. And she didn't count on her family at all. . . leaves Ama is not an outdoorsy girl. She wanted to be at an academic camp, doing research in an air-conditioned library, earning A's. Instead her summer scholarship lands her on a wilderness trip full of flirting teenagers, blisters, impossible hiking trails, and a sad lack of hair products. “Brashares gets her characters’ emotions and interactions just right.” --Publishers Weekly "Like the previous Pants books, this one will travel from girl to girl." --Kirkus Reviews
Twice a Bride
Author: Mona Hodgson
Publisher: WaterBrook
ISBN: 0307730336
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 322
Book Description
Love lost doesn’t mean love lost forever. Can unexpected romance deliver a second chance for two deserving widows? Full of resolve, young widow Willow Peterson decides to pursue her dreams to be an artist as she settles into a new life in the growing mountain town of Cripple Creek. When she lands a job working as a portrait painter with handsome entrepreneur and photographer Trenton Van Der Veer, the road before Willow seems to be taking a better-than-anticipated turn. With questions tugging at several hearts in town, including the Sinclair Sisters’ beloved Miss Hattie, change is traveling down the tracks as several unexpected visitors make their way out West. Will the new arrivals threaten the deep family bonds of the Sinclair sisters and the roots of love that are just taking hold for Willow? Filled with the resonating questions that all women face, this romance awakens hope against grief, love against loss, and dreams against life’s unexpected turns.
Publisher: WaterBrook
ISBN: 0307730336
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 322
Book Description
Love lost doesn’t mean love lost forever. Can unexpected romance deliver a second chance for two deserving widows? Full of resolve, young widow Willow Peterson decides to pursue her dreams to be an artist as she settles into a new life in the growing mountain town of Cripple Creek. When she lands a job working as a portrait painter with handsome entrepreneur and photographer Trenton Van Der Veer, the road before Willow seems to be taking a better-than-anticipated turn. With questions tugging at several hearts in town, including the Sinclair Sisters’ beloved Miss Hattie, change is traveling down the tracks as several unexpected visitors make their way out West. Will the new arrivals threaten the deep family bonds of the Sinclair sisters and the roots of love that are just taking hold for Willow? Filled with the resonating questions that all women face, this romance awakens hope against grief, love against loss, and dreams against life’s unexpected turns.
The House on Willow Street
Author: Cathy Kelly
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 1451681402
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 475
Book Description
Four women--Tess, who faces a crumbling marriage; her sister Suki, who is the victim of a dirt-digging biographer; Mara, who is seeking sanctuary; and Danae, a postmistress who guards the town's secrets--must confront their pasts before they can look to the future.
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 1451681402
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 475
Book Description
Four women--Tess, who faces a crumbling marriage; her sister Suki, who is the victim of a dirt-digging biographer; Mara, who is seeking sanctuary; and Danae, a postmistress who guards the town's secrets--must confront their pasts before they can look to the future.
Daughters of Wild Rose Bay
Author: Susanne O'Leary
Publisher: Bookouture
ISBN: 9781838882624
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 294
Book Description
A heart-warming page-turner set on the Irish coast, where secrets hide, romance is waiting and there is every chance to make a new beginning... Jasmine Delon feels completely lost: having just broken up with the man she thought was the love of her life, all she knows is that she can't face living alone in her empty apartment in Paris. When she turns up at her mother's curiosity shop, nestled in Sandy Cove in Ireland, she hopes time with Sally will help heal her broken heart. Walks along the rugged coastline and nights under endless stars immediately make her feel at peace, and then she meets Aiden, a handsome chef in town, and sparks fly between them. But a lot has changed since Jasmine last saw her mother. Sally is happier than ever with a charming new man in her life and Jasmine's not sure where she fits in. Then she's told about the ruins of an old village in a place nearby called Wild Rose Bay. The locals say it holds secrets about her mother's side of the family... Is delving into their history the thing that can bring Jasmine and Sally back together or will it drive them further apart? And is Jasmine brave enough to give in to the call of the Irish sea for another chance at love? Daughters of Wild Rose Bay is a warm, feel-good novel set on Ireland's gorgeous Atlantic coast. For fans of Sheila O'Flanagan, Debbie Macomber, Mary Alice Monroe and anyone who loves a story about second chances. Readers love Susanne O'Leary! 'A totally captivating book from the first page, I laughed out loud at many parts and shed a few tears in others, a real hug in a book.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'I couldn't put this down! Absolutely delightful!... Great read on a rainy day or a vacation read!!!! Loved this!' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'What a wonderful read this was!... The definition of feel-good - reading it felt like sunshine... The first "feel-good" novel I've read this year that actually made me feel good... I just couldn't put it away.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'Oh, this was a lovely story... A lovely vacation read with plenty of heart... lots of laughter and healing make this a book that is hard to put down and harder to forget... sure to put a smile on your face.' I Am, Indeed 'Another enchanting read from Susanne O'Leary and I'm delighted to learn it is the start of a series. I can't wait to return to Sandy Cove.' Rachel's Random Reads, 5 stars 'I really enjoyed reading this book. I was hooked from the very first page to the very last. I recommend this book to others. You are going to enjoy it just as much as I did.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'This is the first book that I have read of Susanne O'Leary's, but it certainly won't be the last, I loved every word of it.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars
Publisher: Bookouture
ISBN: 9781838882624
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 294
Book Description
A heart-warming page-turner set on the Irish coast, where secrets hide, romance is waiting and there is every chance to make a new beginning... Jasmine Delon feels completely lost: having just broken up with the man she thought was the love of her life, all she knows is that she can't face living alone in her empty apartment in Paris. When she turns up at her mother's curiosity shop, nestled in Sandy Cove in Ireland, she hopes time with Sally will help heal her broken heart. Walks along the rugged coastline and nights under endless stars immediately make her feel at peace, and then she meets Aiden, a handsome chef in town, and sparks fly between them. But a lot has changed since Jasmine last saw her mother. Sally is happier than ever with a charming new man in her life and Jasmine's not sure where she fits in. Then she's told about the ruins of an old village in a place nearby called Wild Rose Bay. The locals say it holds secrets about her mother's side of the family... Is delving into their history the thing that can bring Jasmine and Sally back together or will it drive them further apart? And is Jasmine brave enough to give in to the call of the Irish sea for another chance at love? Daughters of Wild Rose Bay is a warm, feel-good novel set on Ireland's gorgeous Atlantic coast. For fans of Sheila O'Flanagan, Debbie Macomber, Mary Alice Monroe and anyone who loves a story about second chances. Readers love Susanne O'Leary! 'A totally captivating book from the first page, I laughed out loud at many parts and shed a few tears in others, a real hug in a book.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'I couldn't put this down! Absolutely delightful!... Great read on a rainy day or a vacation read!!!! Loved this!' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'What a wonderful read this was!... The definition of feel-good - reading it felt like sunshine... The first "feel-good" novel I've read this year that actually made me feel good... I just couldn't put it away.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'Oh, this was a lovely story... A lovely vacation read with plenty of heart... lots of laughter and healing make this a book that is hard to put down and harder to forget... sure to put a smile on your face.' I Am, Indeed 'Another enchanting read from Susanne O'Leary and I'm delighted to learn it is the start of a series. I can't wait to return to Sandy Cove.' Rachel's Random Reads, 5 stars 'I really enjoyed reading this book. I was hooked from the very first page to the very last. I recommend this book to others. You are going to enjoy it just as much as I did.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'This is the first book that I have read of Susanne O'Leary's, but it certainly won't be the last, I loved every word of it.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars
True to You (A Bradford Sisters Romance Book #1)
Author: Becky Wade
Publisher: Bethany House
ISBN: 144123120X
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 444
Book Description
Winner of the 2018 Christy Award Book of the Year After a devastating heartbreak three years ago, genealogist and historical village owner Nora Bradford has decided that burying her nose in her work and her books is far safer than romance in the here and now. Unlike Nora, former Navy SEAL and Medal of Honor recipient John Lawson is a modern-day man, usually 100 percent focused on the present. But when he's diagnosed with an inherited condition, he's forced to dig into the secrets of his past and his adoption as an infant, enlisting Nora to help him uncover the identity of his birth mother. The more time they spend together, the more this pair of opposites suspects they just might be a perfect match. However, John's already dating someone and Nora's not sure she's ready to trade her crushes on fictional heroes for the risks of a real relationship. Finding the answers they're seeking will test the limits of their identity, their faith, and their devotion to one another.
Publisher: Bethany House
ISBN: 144123120X
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 444
Book Description
Winner of the 2018 Christy Award Book of the Year After a devastating heartbreak three years ago, genealogist and historical village owner Nora Bradford has decided that burying her nose in her work and her books is far safer than romance in the here and now. Unlike Nora, former Navy SEAL and Medal of Honor recipient John Lawson is a modern-day man, usually 100 percent focused on the present. But when he's diagnosed with an inherited condition, he's forced to dig into the secrets of his past and his adoption as an infant, enlisting Nora to help him uncover the identity of his birth mother. The more time they spend together, the more this pair of opposites suspects they just might be a perfect match. However, John's already dating someone and Nora's not sure she's ready to trade her crushes on fictional heroes for the risks of a real relationship. Finding the answers they're seeking will test the limits of their identity, their faith, and their devotion to one another.
Sisters
Author:
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
ISBN: 9780152046590
Category : Juvenile Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 44
Book Description
Although two sisters are different in many ways, they are alike too--most importantly, in their love for each other.
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
ISBN: 9780152046590
Category : Juvenile Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 44
Book Description
Although two sisters are different in many ways, they are alike too--most importantly, in their love for each other.
The Bridge Home
Author: Padma Venkatraman
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 1524738131
Category : Juvenile Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 210
Book Description
"Readers will be captivated by this beautifully written novel about young people who must use their instincts and grit to survive. Padma infuses her story with hope and bravery that will inspire readers."--Aisha Saeed, author of the New York Times Bestseller Amal Unbound Four determined homeless children make a life for themselves in Padma Venkatraman's stirring middle-grade debut. Life is harsh on the teeming streets of Chennai, India, so when runaway sisters Viji and Rukku arrive, their prospects look grim. Very quickly, eleven-year-old Viji discovers how vulnerable they are in this uncaring, dangerous world. Fortunately, the girls find shelter--and friendship--on an abandoned bridge that's also the hideout of Muthi and Arul, two homeless boys, and the four of them soon form a family of sorts. And while making their living scavenging the city's trash heaps is the pits, the kids find plenty to take pride in, too. After all, they are now the bosses of themselves and no longer dependent on untrustworthy adults. But when illness strikes, Viji must decide whether to risk seeking help from strangers or to keep holding on to their fragile, hard-fought freedom.
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 1524738131
Category : Juvenile Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 210
Book Description
"Readers will be captivated by this beautifully written novel about young people who must use their instincts and grit to survive. Padma infuses her story with hope and bravery that will inspire readers."--Aisha Saeed, author of the New York Times Bestseller Amal Unbound Four determined homeless children make a life for themselves in Padma Venkatraman's stirring middle-grade debut. Life is harsh on the teeming streets of Chennai, India, so when runaway sisters Viji and Rukku arrive, their prospects look grim. Very quickly, eleven-year-old Viji discovers how vulnerable they are in this uncaring, dangerous world. Fortunately, the girls find shelter--and friendship--on an abandoned bridge that's also the hideout of Muthi and Arul, two homeless boys, and the four of them soon form a family of sorts. And while making their living scavenging the city's trash heaps is the pits, the kids find plenty to take pride in, too. After all, they are now the bosses of themselves and no longer dependent on untrustworthy adults. But when illness strikes, Viji must decide whether to risk seeking help from strangers or to keep holding on to their fragile, hard-fought freedom.