Tree Root and River Rat by Faith Richardson Published by Fox Song Books. "This is the true story of my life, the life of David Jonathan Yellowfeather, as I saw it and lived it, and the questions I asked along the way ..." It's the last day of summer vacation. David's having a wonderful day: swimming, hiking, spending every minute outside at the river and in the forest. Then evening comes, and his foster mom, Annie, gives him devestating news. David's backache is caused by advanced cancer; he has only months to live. But David discovers that Life is much bigger than he could have imagined, as he is led into a mystical circle of trees where time is meaningless and illness is transformed. This is David's story of wrestling with relationships, spirituality, and identity. No doom and gloom here: only raw courage, deep laughter, and a tender well of joy filling, overflowing, and oozing out the pages, as David discovers treasure in what others have discarded. Fox Song Books Young Adult Fiction Age 14 & up; Appropriate for Grades 6-9.