One girl on the kindergarten roster isn’t speaking, and it doesn’t take long for Margalit, an experienced teacher, to see the clinical diagnosis: selective mutism. What is the secret to Naomi’s silence? Why does Naomi’s mother, Bluma, a beloved nurse, struggle so much with her own daughter? How does the pain of childlessness on both sides of the desk contribute to both Margalit’s and Bluma’s journey into introspection and self-knowledge? And can the shadows of the past truly give way to the bright, happy light that beckons in the distant future? This spell-binding novel weaves together very real challenges in a sensitive, poignant way, drawing the reader in and conveying a satisfying dose of valuable perspective.