Community and magic join forces to protect an out-of-place bird in an endangered ecosystem along San Francisco Bay, in the culmination of the Uncertain Ground YA fantasy trilogy.
Forced to rapidly adapt to her new home by San Francisco Bay, Lily discovers a mysterious bird and joins an exclusive environmental research team. Sophomore year causes her to struggle academically, and her closest school friend alternates between tutor and rival. She reconnects with Xavier, recently arrived from New Mexico, but spirals romantically as their relationship encounters magical roadblocks. Xavier presses Lily to experiment and discuss the ethics of magic. Her sister resents not having magic and plots an alternate course with an anime/ Girl Scout/ activist coalition. When a friend at school worries his art encouraged a suicide, Lily sees parallels to her magical concerns but is pushed aside when she tries to help. She struggles alone to protect the birds and animals she senses with her maturing magic, while keeping half her knowledge secret, and realizing others may exert magical influences of their own. The wetlands call to Lily and guide her entry, but local authorities cannot see or understand her connection to the ecosystem. Lily studies environmental science, hoping to persuade the experts with facts while practicing control over her powers-for her own sake and others. Allies new and old attempt to help, but will Lily's fears and desires endanger them all? Nature listens to the heart.