First published 2024
A young boy has lost his mother and feels crushed by grief. He cannot find courage within himself. One burning question drives him forward: he needs to know if his mother was happy being his mom. The boy enters a dark forest on a quest to find her and get his answer. This fantastical journey takes him through a lush, magical world where he must face his fears and sorrow. The story unfolds as a palindrome, reading the same forwards and backwards, mirroring the cyclical nature of memory and love. Through his adventure, the boy discovers what endures after death and finds comfort in understanding how love persists even when people are gone. Matt Rockefeller's illustrations bring the magical forest to life as the boy searches for connection with his lost parent.
Genres: adventure, coming-of-age, fantasy, magical-realism
Vibes: intimate, lyrical, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, quest
Setting: Forest
40 pages · Hardcover · HarperAlley