Island of Silver

A story of two worlds - one of darkness as the First World War rages in Europe - and one of ineffable light, where a little girl named Lorley lives through her jewel bright imagination.

Lorley has a golden life on the island of Guernsey. Blessed with a wondrous imagination, she sees magic all around her. She dreams of mermaids in the waves and angels in the mist, a young girl who sees heaven in the wildflowers.

But beyond this tiny island in the sea, the First World War begins, and soon the killing fields of Europe bleed into Guernsey. Lorley's Papa must leave his family to fight in the trenches of France.

So begins the great yearning of Lorley's family. Her Mamma cannot truly believe in the war, and longs for her husband's safe return. Lorley's brothers, Reginald and Herbert, too young to fight, yearn for the glory of battle. And her youngest brothers, Lloyd and Randolph, adventurous, lion-hearted boys, yearn for their Papa, their hero, to return to them.

Lorley's world becomes one of great longing also. Believing she must strive to not be afraid, and to not be sad, as her Papa tells her before he leaves, Lorley waits for her Papa to come home.

It is then that the magical Mme. de la Rue enters her life, a radiant witch with shimmering silver hair from the mysterious South Shore of the island. She is a gifted healer and dreamspeaker, and becomes a spiritual beacon for Lorley. The little girl's imagination spirals to new heights as Mme. de la Rue becomes part of Lorley's family through the dark days of the war, through the great longing.

Lorley and her family endure heart-wrenching loss that changes their lives irrevocably. Never, though, does Lorley lose sight of the magic and the wonder in the world.