by Nancy Bond
First published 2012
Jen Morgan arrives in Wales expecting a bleak Christmas holiday. Her family struggles with grief a year after her mother's death. Her father buries himself in his teaching position. Her brother Peter swings between anger and silence. Her younger sister Becky clings to memories of their mother. Then Peter reveals his discovery of an ancient harp key. The artifact shows him visions from the life of Taliesin, the legendary sixth-century Welsh bard. Jen dismisses Peter's claims until she witnesses the key's power herself. Word spreads about the mysterious object and its supernatural abilities. Outsiders threaten to take the key from the Morgan family. The siblings must unite to protect both the artifact and each other. Their fight to keep the harp key becomes a journey toward healing their fractured bonds.
Genres: historical-fiction, coming-of-age, fantasy, family-drama
Vibes: atmospheric, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, healing
Setting: Wales
Period: 6th Century, 1 Year After Mother's Death
160 pages · Kindle Edition · Margaret K. McElderry Books
Content warnings: death