JANINE IS PREPARED for a sticky, boring summer on her familys land in the middle of nowhere. Far from town and with only her ailing brother Ricky for company, Janine spends half her time stuck inside with him, wishing that their mother would let them out to play. But when Mr. Lunasa mysterious man who saved Janines fathers life in the war arrives through the cornfields, strange things begin happening. Ricky sets his heart on building a go-cart. Mr. Lunas eats them out of house and home, then suddenly stops eating at all. And then Rickys health takes a turn for the worse, and it looks like Janines world is about to spin out of control. Janines overprotective mom locks Ricky in his bedroom with her, and Janine is desperate to find a way to say goodbye. In the end, its Mr. Lunas who comes to her rescue, encouraging her to break Ricky freeand then giving them both an enormous gift. Thought-provoking and gracefully written, this short literary novel is a small gem.From the Hardcover edition.