I stumbled upon this book as I was accompanying my son to the children’s section of the local library. I was intrigued by the title, and in the mood for some middle-grade/teen escapism. I read the first pages and decided to take it home.

I am very glad I did!

Sylvia is 13 year old. She lives in the Highground orphanage. Nobody knows who she really is or where she came from. She was found nine years before, covered with bad cuts and bruises, and brought to the orphanage. There she has built a kind of life for herself, between Ms. Romerez’ physics classes and the horses she takes care of, along Mason who lives and works on the grounds. Regularly she is placed in foster homes, but every time, she finds her way back. It’s her routine. Until one day, a massive flood brings devastation and mystery to her little world, prompting her on an adventure that will change everything, forever…

“In fact, she had the unsettling feeling that they weren’t controlling much of what was happening to them. They weren’t the sun and the moon and the flowing water; they were the driftwood.”

There is a lot going on there and it was more complex and intriguing than I had anticipated. This flood brings strange sightings of extinct animals and opens endless possibilities. There is an ecological message woven in there, or more aptly, a call to learn about, love and take care of the places we live in. Armed with her trusted field guides, Sylvia knows a lot about the natural world and it proves an invaluable resource on her journey. She carefully identifies and sketches down the birds and other animals she encounters.

There is also friendship and the blossoming of love. Sylvia meets Jorna, badly hurt by the flood and with a lot of baggage and secrets of his own. The bond they build is tender, strong and realistic.

“He took her hand into his. She felt her heart giving over to him, and she knew he felt the same way. They had no idea what was to come, but at least for now, they were together.”

And there is this touch of eerie magic that is actually built on fascinating scientific theories. I found it very well done.

Sylvia’s journey is an exhilarating ride, but it is not all luck and extraordinary feats. It’s in turn melancholy and tragic, and her little story hints at vast mysteries I took great pleasure pondering on. You have to suspend your disbelief to a somewhat large extent of course, but I found it easy because it’s all narrated seamlessly without seeming too easy. It’s a book you can read in a couple of sittings, it’s quite hard to put down. And I loved that the language was not oversimplified. And the ending was perfect, it comes with resolution but not without loss, and with a little lovely twist!

320 pages
Published October 2024
By Penguin Random House