"One of those truly distinguished books that offers many rich layers for readers to reflect upon." — School Library Journal, Starred Sixteen-year-old Courtney was paralyzed in the accident. Never again will she walk, dance, run, or even leave the convalescent home where she lies in a bed, surrounded by the elderly and dying. Or will she? When the elderly Elva asks her new roommate to read to her from the 1910 edition of Baedeker's Italy, Courtney reluctantly agrees. Each afternoon, for a short time, the two escape back in time from the darkness of winter in North Dakota. Where there seemed none, together they will find adventure, poetry, beauty, love, and most of all, hope.
Author
Paul Fleischman grew up in Santa Monica, California. The son of well-known children's novelist Sid Fleischman, Paul was in the unique position of having his famous father's books read out loud to him by the author as they were being written. This experience continued throughout his childhood. Paul followed in his father's footsteps as an author of books for young readers, and in 1982 he released the book "Graven Images", which was awarded a Newbery Honor citation. In 1988, Paul Fleischman came out with "Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices", an unusually unique collection of poetry from the perspective of insects. This book was awarded the 1989 John Newbery Medal. Factoring in Sid Fleischman's win of the John Newbery Medal in 1987 for his book "The Whipping Boy", Paul and Sid Fleischman became to this day the only father and son authors to both win the John Newbery Medal.
