Emily Iris looks forward to the times her parents welcome house guests to their familys unhappy home. As long as the visitors are there, her mother and father will put their quarrels aside. But one spring a family of wanderers an Australian couple and their two boys comes to stay, starting a chain of events that will shatter Emilys world forever. Will appeal to readers of Jennifer Donnellys A Gathering Light and Barbara Kingsolvers The Poisonwood Bible. On hardback publication this fabulous first novel attracted stunning acclaim.