New York Times bestselling author Julie Buxbaum explores the blinding power of lies, the tight grip of family secrets, and the magic of first love in this poignant novel about a trio of friends and the allure of romantic feelings that fractures their bond as they struggle to remain true to themselves while building back the grounding friendship on which they once relied.
In the middle of Budapest, there is a river. Csilla knows the river is magic. During WWII, the river kept her family safe when they needed it most―safe from the Holocaust. But that was before the Communists seized power. Before her parents were murdered by the Soviet police. Before Csilla knew things about her father’s legacy that she wishes she could forget. Now Csilla keeps her head down, planning her escape from this country that has never loved her the way she loves it. But her carefully laid plans fall to pieces when her parents are unexpectedly, publicly exonerated. As the protests in other countries spur talk of a larger revolution in Hungary, Csilla must decide if she believes in the promise and magic of her deeply flawed country enough to risk her life to help save it, or if she should let it burn to the ground.
On a sunny day at her family’s horse farm, seven-year-old Lily makes an enchanting discovery under the farmhouse porch: a mother cat and her adorable kittens! With her family by her side and some guidance from a caring veterinarian, Lily takes on the heartwarming mission of caring for the little feline family. As she searches for their rightful owner, she not only finds a new friend but learns invaluable lessons about love, responsibility, and the pure joy of unexpected friendships. Dive into this beautifully illustrated tale, and you might just find yourself reading it again and again!