Moving House

When Cherry's mother dies of tuberculosis, Cherry is adopted by her aunt and uncle. It is the late 1800s and her mother's family doesn't think it is proper for her father to raise a little girl on his own. Her parents' summer house on the shores of Lake Huron now belongs to Cherry, but her aunt decides the house should be moved across the bay to a gentle hill that offers a better view of the lake. Cherry is confused and unsettled. Where does she belong? Where does her house belong?

On a cold winter day, Cherry and her uncle supervise as the house is pulled across the frozen bay. What better way is there to move an entire house? The house's journey brings Cherry closer to her aunt and uncle and helps her realize that both she and her house are in the "right place".

As Nora Palmieri writes in an author's note, Moving House is inspired by events in the life of her maternal grandmother and her love of Lake Huron. This is a story that explores the connections between a place, one's identity and a sense of belonging.

Clara Vior's watercolor illustrations give the story a real sense of nostalgia and an ethereal feel. The blurring of ice and clouds on the vast lake and the snowy landscapes of Lake Huron's winter shoreline are beautifully captured. They brilliantly convey the beauty of this place.