After the financial crash, Ellie and her family have lost nearly everything—including their home in town. They have started over, carving out a new life in the unforgiving terrain of Echo Mountain. Though her sister Esther, especially, resents everything about the mountain, Ellie has found more freedom, a new strength, and a love of the natural world that now surrounds them. But there is little joy, even for Ellie, as they all struggle with the sorrow and aftermath of an accident that left her father in a coma. An accident for which Ellie has accepted the unearned weight of blame.
Urgent for a cure to bring her father back, Ellie is determined to try anything. Following her heart, and the lead of a scruffy mutt, Ellie will make her way to the top of the mountain, in search of the healing secrets of a woman known only as “the hag.” But the mountain still has many untold stories left to reveal to Ellie, as she finds her way forward among a complex constellation of strong women spanning generations.
Topics Family life. Neighborliness. Great Depression (1929-1939). Twentieth-century history of Maine. Friendship. Illness. Accidents. Injuries. Girls and women. Rural life. Mountains.
Lexile 690L
Trim Size 8 1/4" x 5 1/2"
JLG Span Fall
Language English
Rights type Print
Publication date 2020-04-20
JLG Release Date Sep 2020
Minimum grade 5
Maximum grade 7
Reading level Elementary, Middle
Format Print
Upper Elementary/Middle Plus (Grades 5-7)
Upper Elementary/Middle Plus
Upper Elementary/Middle Plus (Grades 5-7)
For Grades 5-7
This collection ensures a steady stream of engaging books for middle-grade readers, offering a well-balanced mix of fiction and nonfiction. Designed to challenge and inspire young readers, these selections remain accessible for those transitioning to more complex texts or who may be reluctant to read.