Twelve-year-old Suzy Bowles dreams of life outside the small town of Burr Oak Michigan, but when she stumbles on the opportunity to learn ostrich-riding with the infamous Madame Marantette her obligations to her family on the farm threaten to derail her dreams of a bigger life. Includes photographs and information on Madame Marantette.

Other folks have big plans for D.J. Like her coach. College scouts. All the town hoops fans. A certain Red Bend High School junior who's keen for romance and karaoke. Not to mention Brian Nelson, who she should not be thinking about! Who she is done with, thank you very much. But who keeps showing up anyway.

"A young girl explores her city with her father, taking in all its sensory details. Her city speaks to her in so many ways: "sometimes it echoes," and "sometimes it trills." It "buzzes and tweets and flocks." It's both "busy" and "relaxed," and "smelly" and "sweet." In the end, we discover that the city doesn't just speak to this inquisitive young girl - it also listens ... Author Darren Lebeuf, an award-winning photographer, uses spare text and a...