cover image Flutter: The Story of Four Sisters and an Incredible Journey

Flutter: The Story of Four Sisters and an Incredible Journey

Erin E. Moulton. Philomel, $16.99 (208p) ISBN 978-0-399-25515-1

Set in the 1970s, Moulton's charming debut explores the challenges and rewards of sisterhood. Nine-year-old Maple is devastated when her third sister, Lily, is born prematurely, with a weak heart. Determined to help, Maple decides to make a 30-mile trek into the Vermont woods to visit Old Lady Hope, the Wise Woman of the Mountains (a folkloric character of local legend), seeking a miraculous cure. When Maple's 11-year-old sister, Dawn, catches her leaving, she insists on coming along. The sisters make a fraught trip downriver and into the woods; their travels on land are no less suspenseful, as they encounter everything from a black bear to poachers who mistake them for animals. Throughout the turbulent journey, Maple remains optimistic and on the lookout for miracles, big and small. The girls' knowledge of the wilderness serves them well, and Moulton doesn't minimize the dangers they face or the consequences of their headstrong decision. While significant suspension of belief is required, readers willing to do so will find a heartfelt tale of familial love, with just a touch of magic. Ages 8%E2%80%9312. (May)