I hadn't read a DiCamillo since my niece grew up, but as I was taking her up to college for her summer internship, I stopped in a bookshop in Wellesley, MA, where, in a basement level with an entrance that is almost hidden, that I would never have seen had my niece not told me to look for it, I found a little selection of used books, and among them this book. And also the next book I read and am about to add to Goodreads next. I bought it mostly out of nostalgia for ten years or so ago, for the time spent discussing books with my niece in our own book club of two. I was also drawn to the image of monastics on the cover, my niece and I had paused on our trip to her college to stop in the monastery I have been visiting for almost her whole life.

That is the story of how I came to read this book. The book itself did not disappoint. It was a beautiful story of a brave girl and a brave boy and a brave monk and a wise and brave goat. It was a lovely book that I recommend to young readers, or readers remembering when they were young, or read with young people that they love.

For stars for the book. Not my favorite Dicamillo, probably, but beautiful. And an extra star for the nostalgia.