Introduction

The highly acclaimed author of Where Earth Meets Water returns with an arresting exploration of family and culture.

Plot Summary

When native New Yorker Nicholas Grand applies for an international student exchange program, he thinks it’s an opportunity to broaden his horizons and meet some interesting people. He never imagines that a single year would have repercussions that would follow him throughout his lifetime.

Setting and Characters

Nicholas is sent to Estonia, where he meets shy, sensitive Paavo, his beautiful sister Mari, and their gruff father Leo – a family grappling with the challenges of life in a small country struggling to assert its post-Soviet identity.

Theme and Conclusion

Nicholas sets off on an unforgettable journey through a foreign landscape that ultimately teaches him that some bonds can never be broken.