A dramatic and moving story set in the same world as the international bestseller "The Island" by the distinguished author Victoria Hislop. The absorbing story of the Cretan village Plaka and the small, desolate island of Spinalonga – Greece's former leper colony – is narrated by Maria Petraki, one of the children featured in the original edition of "The Island." She talks to us about the ancient and misunderstood disease of leprosy, exploring themes of stigma, shame, and the treatment of those who are different, topics that are equally important for children and adults. Jill Smith’s rich, colorful illustrations will transport the reader to the eternal and beautiful landscapes of Greece and the Mediterranean.