Rooftoppers / Katherine Rundell / 277 pages

The story opens with the rescue of a 1 year old afloat in a cello case after the sinking of the Queen Mary.  An eccentric bachelor, Charles Maxim, rescues the babe, names her Sophie and raises her in the most unconventional manner possible.  (He encourages writing on the walls, and they use books for plates!)  At age 12, the authorities threaten to take Sophie away and together they escape to Paris in search of Sophie's mother.  Sophie is full of hope.  She never loses her childlike innocence.  She is a brave, determined girl who despite all well-meaning adult counsel believes the mother she barely remembers is still alive.  In Paris Charles & Sophie are on their own and Sophie discovers a unique band of homeless children that live in the treetops and roofs of the city.  She too becomes adept at running across roofs, scaling drainpipes, leaping between buildings and walking tightropes.  This is a very unusual book with interesting characters and beautiful writing.  Yes, it reminds us all to never give up hope...there's always a possible.