BEST FRIENDS FOREVER ISN'T ALWAYS FOREVER BUT SOMETIMES, A BEST FRIEND IS ALL YOU'VE GOT Pickersville, South Carolina, is a small dried-up town that is split by more than just the single railroad track running along North Howard. The only beacon of light is Stonehouse Bookstore, a place where you can at least believe that all your dreams can come true. Even if they never do. Growing up in Sugar Ditch, the rundown trailer park hidden behind the town dump, a love of books is the only thing that gets Sophie Laville through the day. And hiding under the display table at Stonehouse Bookstore is the only way she can afford to read them. Until an Englishman feels sorry for her and tries to help. The help is misunderstood, and all Brian Cox manages to do is scare Sophie off. He tries again. And again. Until finally, Sophie disappears altogether, and the Englishman who has been stalking her becomes the prime suspect. The town split becomes even wider. Nobody is interested in an eight-year-old girl from Sugar Ditch. Everybody is interested in the man who has been pestering her. His only ally is another eight-year-old girl. His daughter, Milly, who has become best friends with Sophie. But helping doesn't help. Friendships never last. And all anyone can do is hope their dreams might come true. Some day. But if someday doesn't come soon, the town will implode, darkness will reign, and Sophie Laville will find herself in an early grave.
