About This Book
Reach for this book when you notice your child being quick to judge a classmate who seems different, messy, or difficult. It is a profound tool for teaching that outward behavior is often a shield for hidden struggles. The story follows Hillary, a girl who becomes fascinated by her neighbor Sara-Kate's claim that elves live in her backyard. As they build an intricate miniature village, Hillary begins to realize the 'magic' is a mask for Sara-Kate's reality of poverty and a mother suffering from severe mental illness. It is a masterclass in empathy for ages 8 to 12, showing how imagination can be a survival mechanism. Parents will appreciate how it handles heavy themes of neglect and isolation with a gentle, mysterious touch that never feels clinical or overbearing.
