Publisher's Synopsis
"A wondrous book, wise and wild and deeply true." Kelly Barnhill, Newbery Medal-winning author of The Girl Who Drank the MoonFor readers who lovedSara Pennypacker's Paxand Lois Lowry's The Giver comes a deep, compelling, heartbreaking, and completely one-of-a-kind novel about nine children who live on a mysterious island.On the island, everything is perfect. The sun rises in a sky filled with dancing shapes; the wind, water, and trees shelter and protect those who live there; when the nine children go to sleep in their cabins, it is with full stomachs and joy in their hearts. And only one thing ever changes: on that day, each year, when a boat appears from the mist upon the ocean carrying one young child to join themand taking the eldest one away, never to be seen again.Todays Changing is no different. The boat arrives, taking away Jinnys best friend, Deen, replacing him with a new little girl named Ess, and leaving Jinny as the new Elder. Jinny knows her responsibility nowto teach Ess everything she needs to know about the island, to keep things as theyve always been. But will she be ready for the inevitable day when the boat will come backand take her away forever from the only home shes known?