The Spirit of Cattail County

by Victoria Piontek

Sparrow doesn't have many friends. Some kids believe her house near the swamp is haunted. Others think there's something "unusual" about her.

But Sparrow's not lonely--she has a best friend who's always with her. He sits with Sparrow on her porch swing. He makes her smile by playing pranks in church. Yet Sparrow is the only one who can see him . . . because the Boy is a ghost.

So when her mama passes away, Sparrow doesn't give up hope. After all, if the Boy can linger after death, then surely Mama can return as well.

But the Boy has a secret of his own, one that Sparrow will need to uncover before the ghost will lead her to Mama. To solve the mystery, Sparrows join forces with some unlikely allies--Maeve and Johnny, siblings from a family of town outcasts--and Elena, a visiting child fortune teller.

With its loving depiction of small town life, and characters who feel like old friends, this magial debut will enchant you, dazzle you . . . and make you feel at home.

Genres: Middle Grade, Mystery, Fantasy, Ghosts, Death, Paranormal, Supernatural

288 pages, Hardcover

First published May 29, 2018

About the author

Victoria Piontek is the author of The Spirit of Cattail County, a Bank Street College Best Book of the Year and a Sequoyah Children’s Masterlist selection. As a kid, she was lucky to have a menagerie of pets, including a goat that liked to follow her to the school bus each morning. When she's not writing, you can find her hiking with her gigantic fluffy dog.

Reviews

[Belles Middle Grade Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing book. Sparrow was such an amazing young girl. She doesn’t have any friends. Most of the kids in town think she is unusual. She doesn’t care though. She has a best friend that has been w/her for as long as she can remember-The Boy. He is a ghost that only she can see. She never knew her daddy, or even who he was. Her mama dies, but she has hope she’ll see her soon. She thinks if the boy can come back, then surely her mama can too. But before the boy will help her, she has to help him w/something. She joins forces w/some unlikely allies-Maeve & Jonny, who are kids of the family outcasts(the town is broken into 3 different families), & also Elena, a traveling child fortune teller. This was southern down to its core, & I drank it up. The small town life, the characters, & how much a family name can mean..along w/how important manners are drilled into you-loved it. Felt like going home. Sparrow is to be raised by her Auntie Geraldine, her moms sister. She was a hateful woman. There are reasons she is the way she is, but she makes it hard to have any sympathy for her. You can feel the sorrow & despair in Sparrow deep down in your own bones as you read, after losing her mama. It wasn’t a stressful kind of sad to read about-which I thought was done well, since losing a parent is one reason I don’t read stressful books anymore. The pain of losing a parent in indescribable, & different to any other kind of pain. The author handled that pain/grief in the most honest way, & I applaud her for that. This was enchanting, & heartwarming. So atmospheric too. I loved joining Sparrow on her journey, & I loved the ending. The author did that amazing as well-I won’t spoil the ending, but the author still made it clear that the pain & grief was still there at the end of the story, & always would be. Not in a depressing way either, that’s just how it is. That’s life. That’s death. BUT “LOVE never says goodbye.” Highly recommend. Love this stunning cover by Rebecca Green too. Beautiful!💜

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it. Sparrow is a very real girl with very real issues, but nothing about her life is boring. The people and places of her community are true Southern characters and I was absolutely transported to Cattail County. As my plane pulled up to the gate, I had about 20 pages left to read, and I have never wanted my flight to be longer ever before! I simply had to finish it the moment I got home.

[Jennie Louwes · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, let it be known, this review is coming to you from a self professed, sentimental sap: This book held me close from its first page to its last. It was oh, so good!

Akin to the movie "Pan's Labyrinth". Not because of anything mystical, and no it doesn't equate to that movie's darkness; but, akin to it within its overarching sadness. A sadness so deep you feel it within your bones. You ache with the main character.

Once again, this was a book I read out loud to my kids, from the hallway between their bedrooms, as their bedtime storybook. I did this knowing my smalls would fall asleep quickly, my smallest big would nod off soon after, and my 11 year old boy-man child would benefit the most. Halfway through the book, my 11 year old said, "This book is so sad." I replied, "I know, son, I know. It has to get better somewhere! It can't stay this bleak. There's gotta be ray's of hope we can find real soon. Just hang in there with me! We're going to find the happy."

Unlike "Pan's Labyrinth", this book did end as one would hope. With a settled sadness knowing brighter days had to be ahead; but, it took a long while to get there.

The sadness wasn't hard to read through. In all actuality, it simply brought you within its depths and made you stay and sit for awhile. You won't struggle against it. You'll be drowning in your own tears; there's no shame in crying, it's a release we all need.

I highly recommend this book. It's one I'll be keeping. It touched me to my core and hit all the right notes within my sentimental self. It deserves nothing less than a permanent place on my bookshelf. I hope it will find a permanent place on a bookshelf near you too; if not, than at least within your heart.

"Love never says goodbye."

[stefiereads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book not remembering what it was about, because it was standing on my shelf for a long time.
Anyway, this is a ghost story that is also about family, about grief, about having hope, about family, friendship, about finding yourself in the midst of difficulties. I feel like this book would be perfect for the young readers that perhaps gone through what Sparrow gone through. This is a book that I know would help me if I lost a family member when I was a kid.
Victoria's writing is so gentle and soothing. The characters are amazing!

I really enjoyed following our main character, Sparrow, and see how her story unfold. I also adore Maeve and Jhonny. I love these two a lot. They are the kids who pushes boundaries and eliminate differences. But seriously, I love all the characters in here! It's been so lovely to follow all of them.

The reason why I gave it a four star is because I think it is missing a little "punch" in the first 60% of the book. I just wish it would be more punching? I don't know how to explain it. But don't get me wrong. It is a great book. and that ending really hit and touched me somehow.

All in all, if you want to read a ghost story that is not creepy but have an eerie feel, but a heartwarming one. I think you'll love this book. It is sad, it is dealt with grief and lost of the loved one, and other topic. But really touching and just lovely! :)

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

You don't often read a children's book that starts out with a funeral/someone dying; that's pretty unusual, pretty fascinating (some might say "morbid"). I thought that it was a great plot device, and that the opening sentence totally caught my attention: "They buried Sparrow Dalton's mama the day the fortune-teller came." Wow.

Throughout this whole book, the atmosphere of the Swamp and the South kept me company; it was almost as much a character as the feuding families or the run-down house where Sparrow lived. I NEEDED to know more. Piontek drew me in with her hints about the spirits, about Sparrow's mama's mysterious backstory, with Boy's secret, and with my own fear about Sparrow's auntie (surely she couldn't be that cruel, could she?).

While everything wasn't tied up neatly--hooray for a sequel, please?--there is a very satisfactory ending here and much love to be found.

[Amy Warren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this charming YA ghost story..it reminded me a LOT of the books I read by Wylly Folk St. John in the 70's and 80's. Really memorable characters, beautiful description of setting. I really felt like I was RIGHT there with the characters. Great job for a debut novel.

[Brigitte · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely, heart-filled story. I cried during the final twenty or so pages.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Spirit of Cattail County by Victoria Piontek, 275 pgs, Scholastic Press, $16.99

Language: G (0 swears, 0 “F”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ESSENTIAL; EL - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Sparrow Dalton is the odd one out in her neighborhood. However, she is not friendless. She has The Boy to keep her company, a spirit that only Sparrow can see. So, when her mother dies, Sparrow believes she can bring her mother’s spirit back. When Sparrow is confronted with a difficult choice, she will have to choose between her happiness, and the happiness of another.

I loved this book. It was a beautiful story of what it means to lose someone close and still find your footing in life. Mature Content is PG because it does talk about getting over personal loss and being alienated by those around you.

Student Reviewer: Julia M(10th grade)
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...

[Trina M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book with my third grade class. It was a bit slow to start but then we were all engrossed in the book. We were living the life with Spirit and could not wait to find out how it ended. It was a great tale of how a girl learns to deal with the loss of her mother. No spoilers but the end left my students wanting more. Victoria Piontek graciously held a chat session via the internet with my students and shared why she wrote the book and my class was excited and enthralled by her answers.

[Carrie Houghton · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

The writing in this book is beautifully descriptive, but doesn't stifle the pacing of the story.

[Carlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this novel! I'm honestly always kind of wary when I pick up a middle-grade novel because they can sometimes feel a little too young for me. However, this was easily an exception. I loved Sparrow. I thought that she was really relatable. She was also somewhat quirky and different without being too much of either. The supporting cast was also interesting, and they felt like they were there for more than just Sparrow's development. There was an emphasis on relationships and grief that I feel was handled really well. The whole plot was truly enjoyable to read. I forgot that there was a spiritual/ ghost aspect to this novel, so that was a very nice surprise! I like books where ghosts are like friends, but I don't like evil ghosts. That sounded weird but bear with me here. There was also a historical aspect that kind of came into play towards the end, and that was something that I really liked. I don't want to say how history came into play because that's a little spoilery. The history was there, but it wasn't overwhelming or made the book feel like it was turning into a nonfiction novel. I did see most of the twists coming, but that didn't ruin my reading experience. The ending was heartwarming, and I thought it was really fitting. There wasn't any cursing in this novel, and there wasn't any sexual content. There was some violence, but it was very PG. Overall, this book is best suited for middle-grade readers. I do think that older people can enjoy this novel, but it was made for a younger age group. I highly recommend this novel! I really enjoyed reading it. It was a quick read that was touching but also somewhat light. I wouldn't say no to reading more from this author, but, despite how much I enjoyed this novel, I'm not sure that I would seek this author out.

[Valerie McEnroe · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's the good and the not-so-good. First the good.

Piontek does a great job setting up the scene of a drab white house sitting on the edge of the swamp. It's the sweltering hot Florida Everglades and a small town with a flea market and long history. Three families own this history. The rich Monroes, the redneck Castos, and somewhere in the middle are the Daltons. Sparrow is a Dalton and her beloved mother has just died. She is left in the guardianship of her Aunt Geraldine who's as mean as a snake. She forbids Sparrow from going to town or hanging out with her new and only friends Maeve and Johnny Casto. Worst of all, she is selling the Dalton House. All of these characters are interesting.

Now the not-so-good. There's a ghost. Sparrow can see this ghost as plain as day. It comes and goes on the periphery. It isn't the strong presence I wanted it to be. Maybe other readers will feel differently. This definitely can not be classified in anyway as a spooky story. There is a child fortune teller, Elena, who becomes friends with Sparrow, Maeve and Johnny. Unfortunately, her character is weak. She could have been eliminated from the story and it wouldn't change anything. The biggest let down for me is the ending. It's wrapped up far too fast. Everything turns out hunky dory. Aunt Geraldine does a 180 personality change in 2 pages and the Monroes, Daltons and Castos are besties.

I love the conflict between Aunt Geraldine and Sparrow. It makes for good reading. It's resolved, but unfortunately, not convincingly. I never understood why the ghost needed the heirloom so much and how that was resolved. Just too many unanswered questions for my liking. But hey, there aren't enough good ghost stories for kids, so I'll take what I can get.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

After Sparrow Dalton's mother dies, she is left in the care of her maternal aunt, Geraldine, who seems determined to change everything about Sparrow. Not only does she try to rein in the free-spirited child and keep her from making friends, but she plans to sell the house, the only place Sparrow has ever called home. Sparrow is convinced that her best friend, a ghost, can help her mother come back. After all, the Boy, as she calls him, is always close by to keep her entertained and protected so why not her mother? Because no one knows whom her father was, there have always been tales spread about her origin. But once Sparrow starts making friends with the Castos, they convince her that their uncle just might be her father. But the Boy also needs her help in finding a lost heirloom worth a fortune. His own story will surprise readers, and while I found it interesting enough, I wondered why it took so long to be revealed to her. The story effectively captures the small-mindedness of some residents of small towns such as Beulah where Sparrow lives as well as the respect owed to the weather and Mother Nature, something that no one living near a swamp in Florida can ever afford to forget. The writing in this book is elegant and moving at moments, making readers feel as though they are walking right alongside of Sparrow in her desperate attempts to fit in and keep her home. Still, things get resolved pretty quickly at the end, and I had hoped for a little bit more.

[Elizabeth Seals · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly, for some reason when I think of the South, Florida doesn't come to mind; my mind kept thinking this book took place in Georgia for some reason. Now onto the review. . . Sparrow is now an orphan in a town that doesn't much like her because she is different. Her mother died without ever telling anyone who Sparrow's father was and she doesn't even look like the Dalton namesake.
But all of this fades slightly because Sparrow has a friend who is always by her side, a ghost called The Boy. The Boy likes to cause mischief and after seeing Elena, the traveling fortune teller, Sparrow realizes that she must help The Boy finish his unfinished business. In hopes that by helping The Boy he'll help bring Sparrow's mother back as a spirit, she sets out on that quest with local friends Maeve, Johnny, and Elena. It's possible that along the way Sparrow may find out who her father really is.
This book is written in a descriptive style that brings out the dark and true feelings of loss in the book. I do think that Auntie Geraldine's switch from being abusive to understanding Sparrow was a little far fetched, however, I mostly live in YA and Adult fiction land. In the end, I loved how everything else wrapped up; the possibility of finding out who Sparrow's dad is and the Boy's storyline. I would love to see another story with Sparrow in it!

[Sami · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Spirit of Cattail County is a middle grade novel dealing with grief and change, as well as spirits and fortune telling. I was given this book as a graduation gift from a professor, and admittedly, it is not a book I would have picked up on my own, but I am glad I got the chance to read it. It's written for a younger audience so it took me only a few hours to finish it. We start out immediately learning of the protagonist's, Sparrow, mother's death. Sparrow is going into sixth grade and doesn't have many friends, apart from a spirit that hangs around her. In this book, we watch Sparrow try to deal with her mother's passing and help the spirit find peace, in hopes that it will bring her mother's spirit to her. Sparrow manages to do all of this while constantly fighting with her aunt, her mother's sister, who has taken a different approach to grieving than Sparrow. The two misunderstand each other throughout the entire novel and Sparrow feels truly like an orphan, a word a few mean kids called her after her mother's passing. I think this book shows what happens after a parent dies in not only a realistic way, with Sparrow's hopes of bringing her mother's spirit back and her fights with her aunt, but also in a positive way. There are so many good things that happen after her mother passes. Sparrow's life still goes on and the changes she dreaded turn out not to be as horrible as she thought.

[Rachel Lovingfoss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saved Passage

"Though the two of them had always been different. She, a girl who looked at death. He, a ghost who looked like life." p2

"But the way they looked didn't matter. they looked the way they did because that's the way they'd been born. It didn't make them one thing or the other. Dandelions and roses looked vastly different, but they were both flowers." p176

"Sparrow pretended not to notice his withdrawl and repressed the sting of a rejection so infinitesimal and instinctual it felt fused to every thread that made up the fabric of Beulah. Sparrow's outcast status had not changed. It thrived. Like a root, it grew and snaked underground, hidden below layers of politeness." p202

"The marsh drank Sparrow's sorrow while a gentl breeze caressed her, and the whispering wind told her love never says goodbye, over and over again, until she began to believe it." p259

"The boy appeared in front of her, disappearing and reappearing every few feet, a spectral guide leading her home. He was doing for Sparrow what he had been unable to do for himself. He was saving her." p260

[Kristie J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't decide between 4 and 5 stars. This is a heartfelt juvenile story set in a small Florida town near the marshes of the Everglades. I read this book because I recently visited the Everglades and I could picture the marsh, the rising water, the reed grass, the egrets, the alligators, and other creatures described in the marsh. I remember the oppressive Florida heat described in the book. So, I really enjoyed the setting. The story was sweet, interesting, and a bit complex too. Sparrow is around 10 years old, her mother just died, and she doesn't know who her father is. Her Auntie Geraldine comes to live with her, is not very nice, and plans to sell Sparrow's house and make her move away from the marsh she has always known. I think the book does a good job of addressing Sparrow's sorrow after her mother's death in a serious way but still appropriate for juveniles. There is also hope in Sparrow's life as she makes new friends and they help her figure out who her father might be. The storyline of the Boy, the ghost that Sparrow has seen her whole life, gives an interesting twist to the story. The ending was happy and hopeful.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC from the publishing company in exchange for an honest review.

Sparrow has always been able to see Boy, a ghost who hangs around her house. After her mother dies from a long battle with cancer, she hopes that she will be able to see her mother as a spirit, as well. When that doesn’t happen, Sparrow tells Boy that she will help him if he helps bring Sparrow her mother’s ghost. Sparrow’s struggles with her mother’s death are worsened by her new guardian Aunt, who is super mean, wants to sell Sparrow’s home and move her away from everything she knows and loves. When Sparrow begins hanging around with two kids her age, they work together to prove that their uncle is Sparrow’s long-lost father.
This was a quick story, which could have better developed plot and characters. I would have enjoyed learning more about the ghostly world and perhaps more interactions between the young characters. It was a ghost story that was more emotional than scary.

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received my copy from Goodreads in exchange for my honest review. Although aimed at mid-grade readers, I loved reading this book. I often read ghost stories, but this one was so much more. It’s a story of belonging to a place and fighting to stay there. Overcoming loss, hate, and false beliefs. It’s beautifully written and unexpectedly touching, from the soul crushing sadness and loss in the aftermath of Sparrow’s mom’s death, to the love found in new friendships and family bonds.

Sparrow’s journey from being a lonely outcast and misfit, through hope and her determination to make things right by taking chances, to a final place of peace and acceptance, is guided by a flea market fortune teller and a ghost only she can see. Solving the mystery of his presence might be the solution to all her problems and give her what she really wants – her mom back. I don’t want to say more and spoil the magic of this story. You won’t regret reading it for yourself.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

ghost story that is also about family, about grief, about having hope, about family, friendship, about finding yourself in the midst of difficulties. I feel like this book would be perfect for the young readers that perhaps gone through what Sparrow gone through. This is a book that I know would help me if I lost a family member when I was a kid.
What a lovely, heartwarming story. Sparrow is the misfit in her community. Seen as a loner, she prefers going to the swamp and exploring. Her beloved Mama dies and her Aunt Geraldine comes to care for her. Auntie Geraldine has no children and has no clue what to do with a child. Sparrow has always been able to see the ghost of The Boy and becomes curious about when he lived and how he might have died.

This book would be good for children who have lost parents and are going through periods of intense grief and sorrow. I believe Sparrow will speak to each one of these children. As a ghost story, it is eerie, but not scary.

[Shawna Busby · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had everything. Sparrow was dealing with the death of her mother, she didn't know who her father was, and the caste system of society was in play as well. She felt her aunt didn't like her and she had The Boy always with her. Deep South living with a ghost, fortune teller and historian. Definitely a quick read for me. Within this story you also learned about the Orphan Train which is very interesting. Sparrow learned the story about The Boy and almost fell victim to the same happenstance as him. By the end of the book Sparrow and Auntie Geraldine finally come to terms with the death of mom/sister and their relationship goes from bad to good.

I found this a book for middle schoolers to enjoy and learn a little at the same time.

[Kathleen McKim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sweet story in the tradition of Clare VanderPool's MOON OVER MANIFEST or DiCamillo's RAYMIE NIGHTENGALE. Sparrow, a lonely girl who is haunted by spirits in a small Southern town finds some unlikely friends after the death of her mother. Along with Maeve and Johnny, she meets Elena, a young fortune-teller from a travelling flea market. The four of them try to help Sparrow connect with the spirit of her mother to save her from her new guardian, Auntie Geraldine who is selling Sparrow's home - Dalton House. The key to reconnecting is for Sparrow to find a way to help The Boy, a spirit she has always known. In their quest to help him, an old heirloom and town secret is discovered and set right. This is a very special book for Middle Grade readers.

[Katie Reilley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good, southern middle grade mystery.

Sparrow’s life is not easy. She’s not like other kids, her mother’s just passed, and she’s left living with a cruel aunt who can’t wait to sell Sparrow’s home that’s been the family for generations. Oh, and the only friend she’s got is a ghost she calls Boy.

Enter two siblings who can’t seem to stay out of trouble and a child fortune teller who wants to help Sparrow solve the mystery of her ghost.

Though the story started slow, I was hooked and hoping for the best for Sparrow and her new group of friends. A good history piece added with details about the Orphan Trains that operated between the 1850s and 1920s.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Attentively evokative of the hot and humid south, The Spirit of Cattail County follows Sparrow Dalton as she grapples with her only parent’s death. Sparrow has no friends in the prejudiced small town she lives in. Being different means going against the grain of the conservative townsfolk, and they don’t like her for it. Placed in care of an aunt who seems determined to change everything about the life Sparrow and her mother cherished, the lonely girl turns to her only reliable friend for help. A boy as haunted as herself, who no one else can see. A ghost. Victoria Piontek’s beautiful prose and considerate approach to life, death and healing after loss is a must read.

[Giselle Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a thoroughly enjoyable read from cover to cover. Victoria writes with ease and the descriptions of places, people and things create a wonderful scene in your mind as you read. Growing up in a small community with most of my friends being relatives, friends of relatives etc; this book brought back many fond memories of things that I did in my childhood related to what happens in the story. I loved the bit of fantasy and the dynamics between all the characters.

For recommending: no swearing or suggestive language, beautiful descriptions, friends, family.

I hope that there are more stories to come from Victoria Piontek.

[Carolyn O'Doherty · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a thoroughly engaging book with interesting, believable characters, and a story that keeps you turning the pages. Sparrow sees ghosts, but this isn't a ghost story, it's a story of loss and acceptance and finding your place in the world. Young readers are sure to relate to Sparrow's struggles and cheer her successes. The author tells a story which could be terribly sad but somehow isn't. Even though Sparrow's motivation is based on the loss of her mother, Sparrow herself moves through the novel with a positive, adventurous energy that imbues the story with a sense of optimism even when things seems at their most bleak. Highly recommended!

[Audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a lovely story. Goodness I absolutely hate Auntie Geraldine and the way she treats Sparrow I really felt like punching her. And when she said "You're a child. You don't know what's best", wow I was so angry. Some adults really think they know what's best when they are just clueless!! However I'm glad she came back to her senses and finally really behave like a proper adult. I felt so sad about Sparrow desperately wanting to bring her Mama back (I would have felt and done the same if I were in her shoes) and also her craving for someone she could call family. I'm so glad Maeve, Johnny and Elena were genuinely there for her and made her feel like family.

[Archer Mellott · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved this book up until the ending, which aggravated me. I loved the historical reference to the orphan trains as well as the incorporation of the childhood tarot card reader. There were SO many beautiful threads in the book that were left undone. Sparrow's darker skin tone. The gold watch. The author never answered the main question question of the book: the identity of Sparrow's father. For how large a theme that was in the book, I kept reading wanting to find out who it was but the author never tells you. The speculation at the end wasn't enough to provide closure. Several characters have a radical personal transformation at the end of the book, their inner change so rapid that it felt fake and unrealistic. I loved this book until I got to the unsatisfying ending. The end changed my mind on recommending this book to others.

[Sherrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the Spirit of Cattail County which is middle grade Southern Gothic novel. Sparrow has recently lost her mother and is hoping the ghost that resides in her family home will help her mother return to visit her. Sparrow was a likable character but not fully fleshed out as was the case with all the characters in the book. The book had a bit of a reveal at the end so I’m hoping a second book will solve the mystery of the identity of Sparrow’s father. Good read but needed more meat to fill it out.

[Dironego Jabberwocky · Rating 3 out of 5]

La temática de los fantasmas, fuegos fatuos, espíritus y lecturas de tarot, aunque sí están siempre presentes a lo largo de las páginas, no son el eje central de la trama, sino que más bien son engranajes que hacen funcionar a los temas que la escritora quiso enfatizar: la familia, la amistad, la inclusión y exclusión social, las apariencias y aprender a dejar ir las cosas y aceptar las venideras.

"When you look at that boy, you don’t see a ghost. You see a friend. You’re like your mama. Seeing beauty where others don’t."