SILVER AWARD WINNER — Northern California Publishers & Authors Awards

"I was crying by the end of the prologue."

"Riveted throughout."

"This book gives you all the feels."

Levi learned how to keep a secret well before he knew how to tie his shoes. He knows when to speak, when to stay silent, and how to make himself small enough that no one bothers to ask too many questions. When your mother is unwell — when the line between her illness and her choices dissolved long before you were old enough to ask — silence feels like the only way to survive.

In a forgotten corner of California's Central Valley, Levi is holding more than any boy should carry — including a dream he would never say out loud: that somewhere, he might have a father. That somewhere, there's a name he's supposed to carry. A place he truly belongs.

But when his mother vanishes, the secrets she carried with her are darker and deeper than anything Levi could have imagined.

What he doesn't know yet is that sometimes the family you need finds you first — and sometimes the life you thought was yours never was.

Narrated by Josh Self — the author's son — whose intimate connection to this story brings Levi's world to life with rare authenticity and emotional depth.

"Narrator Josh Self's emotional depth vividly paints a picture of a time and place with a warm and wistful voice. Crisp, clear, and delivered at a superb pace — a beautiful, heartwarming exploration of the human spirit's resilience."