Christine Lajewski

Jhator Christine Lajewski

While attending the funerals for several family members lost in a fire, Sofia finds herself plagued with a bitter taste nothing can remove. A year later, she rescues a white snake trapped in her garden. The bitter taste disappears and Sofia discovers she has been given a gift: She can understand the speech of animals. This gift, however, comes with some heavy responsibilities. Three physical animal guides enter Sofia's life to help release her from her grief. Her dog, Jet, is exuberant and joyful while Afra, the doe, is an empathic, grieving mother. Anat, the vulture, is a harsh, sometimes terrifying teacher.

They find that they must all embrace the concept of Jhator, a traditional Tibetan funeral practice in which the body of a dead person is exposed to the open air to be eaten by vultures.