"Hey Dad, it's Pia. I just wanted to let you
know that the trip is going well. I'm actually
having a lot of fun.
It kind of feels like being part of a big
family.
I miss you a lot, though, and I can't
wait to come home ... so we can all
be together again."
It's been quite a year since Pia's younger brother, Ben, died by drowning. The family is reeling with grief and have recently made a move to help them begin again in a new location. Pia's mother continues to believe that Pia caused her brother's death. Her dad is doing his best to keep the family together. After speaking with the school librarian and learning about the magical powers of Cessarine Lake, Pia sets her focus on drinking the water there and hoping for better days ahead.
To make the story work as well as it does, Debbie Fong shifts back and forth with brightly colored pages that follow Pia on her bus trip through the desert; Pia's delight in meeting and making new friendships help alleviate the pain of her life as she has been living it. Flashbacks are done in more somber tones as readers discover what happened with Ben.
There are certain elements that suggest there might be something magical for those who visit Cessarine Lake. Pia can, thus, remain hopeful for the future. Her father's gift of tickets that allow entrance to attractions along the way help Pia (who travels with a family friend and her daughter) become part of a bigger family of travelers. Her trip allows readers to see the grief she is experiencing, and also the beginning of her healing as it focuses on family, friendships and making connections along the way.
Memorable and sure to find fans, this is a book that offers hope and may even be read more than one time.
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