Not all who wander are lost.
Not all who return are unchanged.
Not all who change are diminished.
Fifteen-year-old Emma is already grieving her mother’s death when her dog goes missing during a spring break trip to Sedona meant to help her and her father heal. Her desperate search leads to ancient places that appear only to those ready to transform grief, forcing a choice between staying trapped by loss or finding the courage to heal together.
From Our Story Studio
About The Story
It’s been a year since her mother’s death, and fifteen-year-old Emma and her father can’t seem to get past the grief that’s shut down their relationship and their healing.
When her father insists on taking her to Sedona for spring break—one of her mother’s final wishes, believing it’s a place where they can heal—Emma resents the forced trip. But when he drops a bombshell about a job that could uproot their entire life, she realizes he’s making decisions without her again. Just like he did when her Mom was dying.
But the desert holds mysteries that will change everything.
When their dog Lillie disappears in the red rock wilderness, Emma’s desperate search leads her to places that shouldn’t exist and people who understand loss in ways that seem impossible. A mysterious fox appears when Emma needs guidance most. And somewhere in the desert, a hidden place waits for those who are truly lost, containing what they need to find their way.
As her father’s deadline approaches, Emma must choose between staying frozen by grief or finding the courage to move forward. But in Sedona, moving forward might mean discovering that love doesn’t disappear, it just changes form.
A story of family, healing, and the mystical connections that guide us home when we’ve lost our way.
Perfect for readers who loved the emotional depth of Where the Crawdads Sing and the mystical hope of The Midnight Library.