I am delighted to share my review today for Where the Forest Meets the Sky by Glendy Vanderah. This is a book that has languished on my Kindle forgotten about until I suddenly came across it.
In this gorgeously stunning debut, a mysterious child teaches two strangers how to love and trust again.
After the loss of her mother and her own battle with breast cancer, Joanna Teale returns to her graduate research on nesting birds in rural Illinois, determined to prove that her recent hardships have not broken her. She throws herself into her work from dusk to dawn, until her solitary routine is disrupted by the appearance of a mysterious child who shows up at her cabin barefoot and covered in bruises.
The girl calls herself Ursa, and she claims to have been sent from the stars to witness five miracles. With concerns about the child’s home situation, Jo reluctantly agrees to let her stay—just until she learns more about Ursa’s past.
Jo enlists the help of her reclusive neighbor, Gabriel Nash, to solve the mystery of the charming child. But the more time they spend together, the more questions they have. How does a young girl not only read but understand Shakespeare? Why do good things keep happening in her presence? And why aren’t Jo and Gabe checking the missing children’s website anymore?
Though the three have formed an incredible bond, they know difficult choices must be made. As the summer nears an end and Ursa gets closer to her fifth miracle, her dangerous past closes in. When it finally catches up to them, all of their painful secrets will be forced into the open, and their fates will be left to the stars.
MY REVIEW
I have had this book on my Kindle for too many years. It gradually got lost in the vastness of the digital library that I have collected over the years. After a random sweep through the titles, this one caught my eye, and it is absolutely gorgeous to read.
Jo Tealeis is studying birds and using a research cabin that is available to students. She is a couple of years behind her fellow students as she looked after her Mum as she died from cancer and also while Jo herself went through treatment. She enjoys the loneliness and the nature that is in the area, she doesn’t have to worry or think about anyone else in her life. That is until a young girl arrives at the cabin. The girl says she is from the stars and her name is Ursa Major, she has to witness five miracles before she can return to her home in the stars.
This story is just an absolute pleasure to read, the author builds up such a wonderful scene around the cabin in Illinois, the seclusion and having nature right on your doorstep sounds great. The girls’ arrival means that Jo now has someone to think about, she tries to get some straight answers from Ursa, but the girl is adamant about where she came from.
The story sees Jo spark up a friendship with a neighbour, she is aware of him as she buys eggs from his stall. Gabe lives with his mother and has his own set of problems. It is the presence of Ursa that brings the two together, but they are very different and have different ideas about life.
The story sees Ursa try to make people believe in what she believes in and it is later on when things turn and you start to understand more about the story. The author has woven such a fabulous plot line that had me hooked from the very first pages. Several emotions come with this book and it has such a magical feel to it as you read it.
This is a stunning book and one that is ideal for those readers who are looking for something a bit different, a mix of contemporary fiction and romance with a dash of magical fantasy for those who want to believe in something more to life and the universe. It is a book that I adored and I would definitely recommend it.
Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx
