Elevation: 6,040

“The mark of a great story, I think, is when, at the conclusion, the reader doesn't want it to end, not because the subject matter is necessarily pleasant or the situation necessarily happy; rather, it's because the tale is so lovingly and consistently rendered, so infused with a sense of character, place, and time, that the plot itself diminishes to mere background and one forgets that what one is reading is fiction. This story does that. It resonates long after the final sentence, haunts memory. This is a novella of beauty, imagination, and the unique bonding of a unique family in a unique situation that captivates from the first few lines and never releases its grip. It is unrelentingly honest, often difficult to absorb because of the discomfort it creates. Peopled by fascinating and original characters, it comes alive on the page and enters the heart, often leaving one breathless.”
—Clay Reynolds, Final Judge