from the author of rust stardust comes this heartbreaking story inspired by true events of how far one mother must go to protect her daughter dover massachusetts 1969 ginny richardsons heart was torn open when her baby girl lucy born with down syndrome was taken from her under pressure from his powerful family her husband ab sent lucy away to willowridge a special school for the feebleminded ab tried to convince ginny it was for the best that they should grieve for their daughter as though she were dead that they should try to move on but two years later when ginnys best friend marsha shows her a series of articles exposing willowridge as a hellonearthits squalid hallways filled with neglected childrenshe knows she cant leave her daughter there with ginnys sixyearold son in tow ginny and marsha drive to the school to see lucy for themselves what they find sets their course on a heartracing journey across state linesturning ginny into a fugitivefor the first time ginny must test her own strength and face the world headon as she fights ab and his domineering father for the right to keep lucy racing from massachusetts to the beaches of atlantic city through the blue ridge mountains of virginia to a roadside mermaid show in florida keeping lucy is a searing portrait of just how far a mothers love can take her