I enjoyed reading this touching story so much, and would love to see it in the hands of upper elementary schoolers and middle grade readers. The author, Jeanne Zulick Ferruolo, has taken some tough real life challenges that many kids face, and woven them into a realistic tale about believing in yourself and your friends.

Calliope Scott (Cal) is worried about her mom's health, and her dad who is in prison for unclear reasons at the start of the book. She doesn't have many friends at school, and would rather spend her time on Mt. Meterorite, climbing and trying to solve the mystery of what really landed on the mountain many years ago.

After nervously befriending new student Rosine (who has her own heartaches), the two girls plan to summit the mountain and find whatever magic could help them both.

The entire book is sweet, but not syrupy or patronizing to kids. An important side character passes away, and none of the characters' actions are perfect - so they are believable as real people. Ferruolo develops the characters and relationships well. I was pleasantly surprised by some of the twists as the story went on. I would definitely recommend this book for any kid ages 8-12.

Cal's world is falling to pieces with her mom getting sicker day by day and her dad in jail following a drunk driving incident. She's ostracized at school by the mean girls and afraid to make friends with the new girl, Rosine, in case she turns out the same way.

However Rosine is obviously different from their peers. She has faced an overcome a number of adversities because, as she puts it, she had no other choice.

Her experience facing challenges and continuing to press forward encourages Cal to do the same.

Together they climb their town's famed mystical mountain, hoping to find magic, but instead find themselves.

Thank you to the publisher for the e-ARC of this middle grade novel.

This book will be an important addition to classroom libraries. In my own school, we have unfortunately had many students walk this path, and there is so little in the repertoire that reflects their experiences. Here too, we have had students whose parents have had some fairly serious consequences associated with driving while intoxicated.

Cal's journey is one many kids will be pulled into, and her friendship is a touching one. I look forward to seeing this on classroom shelves.

Absolutely gorgeous coming of age novel that deals with a huge variety of issues including control (having and letting it go), parental cancer, parental alcoholism, death, war, and global refugees. Genuinely beautiful, both sad and hopeful.

Two outsiders support each other through tumultuous times. Cal and Rosine are each seeking magic, to heal their families and broken hearts. Will climbing to the top of the steep spire bring them what they want or what they need? The kids in this book take a lot of risks when they feel unable to confide in the trusted adults around them. A bit of mysticism comes brings help at desperate times.