The Vanishing Act

This is a story about a snow-covered island you won't find on any map.

Minou and her Papa live on a tiny island in the middle of nowhere. Minou’s mother has been missing for a year and despite what everyone tells her, Minou refuses to believe that she is dead. The morning after the circus Mama walked out into the rain with her umbrella and Turtle she must have been going somewhere.

The only other people on the island are Priest, who gives the Sunday sermon, and Boxman, who makes the kinds of boxes that magicians put beautiful ladies in before sawing them in half. And there is also Boxman’s dog, No Name.

Papa talks to Minou about philosophy and how the truth can be found through rational thought. But Mama didn’t believe in philosophy; she believed in rainbows, paintings and the power of imagination.

One day a dead boy washes onto the beach and Minou and Papa take him home. With the arrival of the boy comes the unmistakable scent of oranges — just like the smell of Mama’s orange cake.

The dead boy is a good listener and in talking to him Minou discovers clues that may help explain where Mama might have gone and, just as importantly, the meaning of love.

A beautiful, haunting story you will never forget.