As Hillary works in the miniature village, allegedly built by elves, in Sara-Kate's backyard, she becomes more and more curious about Sara-Kate's real life inside her big, gloomy house with her mysterious, silent mother.

Janet Taylor Lisle is the author of many novels for children, including the Newbery Honor book, AFTERNOON OF THE ELVES; THE ART OF KEEPING COOL; HIGHWAY CATS; SIRENS AND SPIES; FOREST; and A MESSAGE FROM THE MATCH GIRL (from the Investigators of the Unknown series). She lives with her family on the coast of Rhode Island.