At the cemetery, the gates were propped open, and inside, there were hundreds of people. Wunder watched as his neighbors climbed high up into the DoorWay Tree to pick flowers. He watched as they gave them away or held them close. He watched as they stood in clusters, arms around one another, some crying, some laughing, some kneeling. He knew what they were feeling; he knew the way their hearts were breaking and mending at the same time.

And he knew as he watched that this was only the beginning. He knew that everyone in Branch Hill would soon come to the cemetery. Everyone in Branch Hill, and maybe even beyond.

They would come to see the bright miracle of the DoorWay Tree.

And then they would stay for a while. They would stay and reach beyond their sorrow, beyond time, beyond death. They would stay and find the miracles hidden in the darkness. They would stay.

Together.

Because here was a place where the dead weren’t really gone.

Here was a place where the living stood side by side.

Here was a place where roots went down deep.

Here was a place where branches reached up high.

Here was a place where miracles happened.

Here was a place where everything changed.

Behold.

Acknowledgments

Not too long ago, very few people had ever read anything I had written and very few people knew that I wanted to publish a story someday.

But now my writing world has grown and grown, and my dream has become a reality. And there are so many people to thank for that.

And so, all my gratitude to:

• My extraordinary agent, Sara Crowe, who found a home for Wunder and Faye.

• My dream of an editor, Janine O’Malley, whose vision and love for this story were everything I could have hoped for and more.

• Melissa Warten for her insightful eye and unfailing patience and enthusiasm.

• Hayley Jozwiak and Chandra Wohleber for their keen questions and attention to detail.

• Beth Clark for designing and Matt Rockefeller for illustrating the cover that perfectly captures this story’s dark and bright.

• The entire team at FSG and Macmillan Children’s, including Jen Besser, Katie Quinn, Alex Hernandez, Katie Halata, and many more who welcomed me with such warmth and contributed so much wisdom and talent.

• Holly McGhee and all the Pips who make me so proud to be a part of Pippin Properties.

• My many artistic, linguistic, cultural, and religious advisors, including Adrienne Kim Clark, Jin Oh, Paul and Nicole Henry, Raquel Trinidad, Liz Oleski, Brigid Misselhorn, Meagan Bell, and Irene Aunger Smith.

• Kathleen Anderson, a mentor and friend through many stages of life.

• Tonja Ewing-Gomez and all the members of A Novel Bunch for their support and encouragement.

• The Novel Nineteens, who were the writing friends I never knew I needed and now could not imagine doing this debut year without.

• The countless writers who have inspired and challenged and shaped me.