ALA Notable Childrenโs Book
Kirkusย Reviews โBest Childrenโs Book of the Yearโ
Winner of the North Carolina Juvenile Literature Award
Winner of theย NAPPAย Gold Award
A feistyย tweenageย orphan discovers what it means to love and be loved in this powerful coming-of-age novel about hope, redemption, and found family
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A headstrong girl. A stray cat. A wild boy. A man who plays with fire. Eleven-year-old Zoรซ trusts no one. Her father left before she was born. At the deathย of her irresponsible mother, Zoรซ goes to live with her uncle, former surgeon and famed metal sculptor, Dr. Henryย Royster. She's sure Henry will fail her as everyone else has. Reclusive since his wifeโs death, Henry takes Zoรซ to Sugar Hill, North Carolina, where he welds sculptures as stormy as his moods.
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Zoรซ and Henry have much in common: brains, fiery and creative natures, and badly broken hearts. Zoรซ confronts small-town prejudice with a quick temper. She warms to Henryโs odd but devoted friends, meets a mysterious teenage boy living wild in the neighboring woods, and works to win the trust of a feral cat while struggling to trust in anyone herself.
In this award-winning coming-of-age tale for young readers, Zoรซโs questing spirit leads her to uncover the wild boyโs identity, lay bare a local lie, and begin to understand the true power of Henryโs art. Then one decisive night she and the boy risk everything in a reckless act of heroism . . .