Winner of a 2018 Christianity Today Book of the Year Award "Shawn Smucker enchants with a deftly woven tale of mystery and magic that will leave you not only spellbound but wanting more."--Billy Coffey, author of There Will Be Stars It was the summer of storms and strays and strangers. The summer that lightning struck the big oak tree in the front yard. The summer his mother died in a tragic accident--and young Samuel Chambers would have done anything to turn back time. Even today, he can hardly believe it all happened . . . Prompted by three strange carnival fortune-tellers and the surfacing of his mysterious and reclusive neighbor, Sam begins his search for the Tree of Life--the only thing that could possibly bring his mother back. His quest to defeat death will entangle him and his best friend Abra in an ancient conflict, forcing Sam to grapple with an unwelcome question. Could it be possible that death is a gift?