Martha Keltz

The Garland Martha Keltz

Eighteen-year-old Sondra, or "Sunny," has recently graduated from high school. After their single mom passed away, she assumed the legal guardianship of her half sister, Amanda, or "Mandy," who is eight years old. The story begins in June, when the girls move from New York City to a small mountain town in Western Maryland, where they have been given two properties that belonged to Mandy's father, whom they have never met. Matters become complicated for Sunny when her little sister longs to continue with her ballet training. The child is an exceptionally gifted dancer and a natural, charismatic little superstar, while Sunny is a quiet, studious, hardworking girl who is still uncertain about the direction that her life will take. With the capable assistance of the many new friends that the sisters have met in the small town, in addition to their good friends back in New York City, Sunny puts aside her own interests and goals to manage Mandy's career. However, she draws comfort - and realizes her eventual destiny - through restful, solitary excursions to a small house in the forest called "The Hut," one of the properties given to the two girls. Here she discovers the natural wonders of the surrounding forest and the incomprehensible number of stars in the deep night sky. The twofold mystery of The Garland is revealed near the end of the story. One part of the mystery makes complete sense to Sunny, while she is astonished by the second more personal meaning.