A gentle, otherworldly novel featuring the mysterious “girl from the mountains” who aides a refugee family in a most unexpected way. Mystical but not magical in a Harry Potter sense, it was written for children but is much loved by grown-ups, too. The story is deeply moral but not at all preachy or heavy-handed, featuring bravery and kindness, and (of course) a happy ending. (Summary by Adrian Praetzellis)