First published 1992
Marcel drives his family's cattle up the steep mountain paths of the French Alps. The ten-year-old boy knows these high slopes well, but today brings an unexpected challenge. His father has given him clear instructions about his duties with the cows. When Marcel encounters a friend who desperately needs his help, he must choose between following his father's orders and doing what his heart tells him is right. The mountain setting isolates Marcel from adult guidance just when he needs it most. His decision will test not only his courage but his understanding of what it means to be loyal. Marcel discovers that sometimes the hardest choices come when both options seem equally important.
Genres: family-life, adventure, coming-of-age
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: coming-of-age, moral-dilemma
Setting: French Alps
Period: 20th-century
90 pages · Hardcover · The Viking Press