Massachusetts, California, Timbuktu

Dragged across several states due to their mother's unpredictable life, Justine and Rona experience the fading promise of a new beginning and face the challenges of their family circumstances. As Justine approaches adolescence, she finds herself taking on more responsibility for her younger sister and creates an imaginative world through a school assignment to cope with their struggles. This smart and heartfelt novel explores themes of resilience, imagination, and the bond between siblings.