It's been almost a year since Sila's mum travelled 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 bear. 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 a unique 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 humour that readers have come to expect from the beloved author of Counting by 7s.

Feelings travel even when people can't

About the Author
Holly Goldberg Sloan spent part of her childhood living in Istanbul, Turkey. She is a scriptwriter and the highly-acclaimed author of two YA novels I'LL BE THERE and JUST CALL MY NAME. Her middle grade novel COUNTING BY 7s, was an Amazon Best Book of the year 2013 and a New York Times bestseller and she is the co-author of the highly praised TO NIGHT OWL FROM DOGFISH. She lives in Santa Monica, California. Follow Holly at www.hollygoldbergsloan.com or on Twitter: @HGoldbergSloan.

Reviews
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 *
Each character wrestles with love and loss and struggles with decisions about when to act and when to wait; each in their own way has insight into the others, and empathy for them . . . Sila wonders if people are more compassionate because of their own difficult experiences; in this unique, touching book, the answer is yes. * School Library Journal, starred review *
Using multiple narrative perspectives, [Goldberg Sloan] touches on many weighty topics (grief, autism, deportation, animal cruelty), handling each with sensitivity. * Booklist *
Sloan captures the importance of compassion and bravery when facing life's challenges . . . themes of collectivity and community in the face of isolation and stigma are brought to the surface and themselves offer depth to this heartfelt and sincere story. * Kirkus *
Sloan (To Night Owl from Dogfish) fully builds the emotional interiors of each character, including Veda. This heartfelt tale thoughtfully conveys the agony of family separation, the beauty of nature, and the power of friendship to overcome tremendous difficulties. * Publishers Weekly *
This beautiful story and the wonderful connections between all of the characters remind readers that very often people and animals come into our lives for a reason and usually just when we need them the most. A perfect title for middle school, fans of animal stories, and a great suggestion for readers looking for books that help deal with loss, heartache, and hope. * School Library Connection *



Book Information
ISBN 9781800780002
Author Holly Goldberg Sloan
Format Paperback
Page Count 256
Imprint Piccadilly Press
Publisher Bonnier Books Ltd
Weight(grams) 191g
Dimensions(mm) 198mm * 129mm * 15mm