NEW hardcover

The Year the Swallows Came Early Fitzmaurice, Kathryn

Eleanor Groovy Robinson loves cooking and plans to go to culinary school just as soon as shes old enough But even Groovys thoughtfullyplanned menus wont fix the things that start to go wrong the year she turns elevensuddenly, her father is in jail, her best friends longabsent mother reappears, and the swallows that make their annual migration to her hometown arrive surprisingly early As Groovy begins to expect the unexpected, she learns about the importance of forgiveness, understands the complex stories of the people around her, and realizes that even an earthquake cant get in the way of a family that needs to come togetherKathryn Fitzmaurices lovely debut novel is distinctively Californian in its flavor Her rich characters and strong sense of place feel both familiar and fresh at first meetingand worth revisiting, again and again