First published 2013
Marly's family trades their cramped city apartment for a weathered farmhouse nestled among the maple trees of rural Vermont. The move represents more than a change of address. It offers her father a chance to recover his health and spirits after difficult times, while giving the whole family space to rebuild their connections to each other and the natural world. Life on Maple Hill brings daily discoveries. Marly learns to tap maple trees for syrup, tends to farm animals, and explores woods and meadows that stretch beyond her old neighborhood's concrete boundaries. Each season presents new challenges and small victories. Her family must adapt to country rhythms, from early morning chores to the patient work of coaxing food from the soil. The farm becomes a place of healing and growth for all of them. Marly watches her father regain his strength through outdoor work. She discovers her own capabilities as she takes on responsibilities she never imagined in the city. The family finds that their new home offers not just fresh air and open space, but a chance to create the life they truly want together.
Genres: fiction, family, family-life, historical-fiction, 20th-century
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: Vermont
Period: 20th-century
256 pages · Kindle Edition · Clarion Books