Elam loves the wilderness of the mountains where he lives. The cool air, spicy-smelling pine trees, the fishing - this place is home. He doesn't want to move to the Arizona desert, but his father thinks Elam needs a change. Since his best friend, Brett, drowned in a river accident last year, Elam has been a loner. After the move, Elam explores the desert alone, unwilling to befriend the neighboring kids. The dry brown earth makes him long for the lush green of home. But in the parched landscape he discovers something unexpected: a river where no water should be. There he meets Refugio, who also seems to be a loner. Drawn together by a shared love of wildlife, the two forge a tentative friendship. As Elam's longing for the mountains lessens, he slowly begins to let go of the guilt and pain from Brett's death. Randall Wright's stunning first novel is a beautiful and deeply moving exploration of the aftermath of loss and the healing power of nature.
