First published 1999
In three interconnected tales, ordinary people make the mistake of believing too deeply in physical objects. Each story follows a different protagonist who becomes entangled with graven images that seem to hold special power or meaning. The first character falls victim to mysterious circumstances after placing trust in a carved figure. The second stumbles through a series of comic mishaps while chasing after what appears to be a miraculous artifact. The third confronts darker consequences when devotion to an image leads to betrayal and deception. As each tale unfolds, the characters learn that their faith has been misplaced. The objects they revered prove to be nothing more than wood, stone, or metal. Yet the damage from their misguided trust spreads through their lives like ripples in water. Fleischman weaves these stories together to show how the human need to believe in something greater can become a weakness that others exploit.
Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, 20th-century, 21st-century
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: betrayal, exploitation, misguided-trust
85 pages · Paperback · Harpercollins Childrens Books