• Age: 9 to 11
• Grade: 4 to 6

Maeve, a blacksmith's daughter, has been living among the Druids for several months as she trains to be a seer. She still marvels at the newfound friendship in her life. Her teacher Bradan, her friends Enda, Nora and Declan, and the rest of the Druids living at the Ruin, provide her with a sense of belonging she's never felt before.

But she learns how fragile her feelings of acceptance are when she makes a shocking discovery about where she comes from. And she learns that her past puts those she loves in grave danger. Maeve will have to use all her skills if she's to save those she cares about.

After nearly 30 years as a published author, Kristin has written more biographies of herself than she cares to remember. And she has run out of new ways to describe the same old life. Besides, she doesn't think of herself in terms of her birthplace, education, and work history. What she'd really like people to know about her is that she loves to dance. She loves to laugh. She loves to learn. Crossword puzzles relax her. Waiting frustrates her. She likes spending time by herself. And, like the heroine in her new book Closer to Far Away, she has a family that gives her strength. Her books include Cheat, Girls Like Me, The Druid and the Dragon, and Alibi. Kristin lives in Campbell River, British Columbia.

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