Pete Shelton's life revolves around Riverside, a Michigan nature preserve on the St. Joseph River. The property is dedicated to its founder, the late Paul McMichael, naturalist and moth collector, who died while still a young man. When a runaway named Nora McMichael shows up at Riverside, claiming to be the daughter of Paul McMichael, Pete suspects she is lying. He resents her urgent need to be part of Riverside and to become close, too close, to Paul's mentor and friend, Abe McMichael, younger brother of Paul. Although enemies at first, Nora and Pete slowly begin to piece together their shadowy pasts . . . and discover that their lives are intertwined in ways neither could have imagined. Filled with loving descriptions of Michigan wilderness, animal lore and a passionate Lepidopterist's journal, Willey weaves an inter-generational tale of healing, reclamation and discovery.
