A gripping tale of education, violence, and hope, in which one man's dream for a better future collides with a community on the edge of transformation. Set in 1842, this novel foregrounds a Haiti that is grappling with the weight of an onerous debt imposed by France, forcing its citizens to pay reparations to French colonists in exchange for diplomatic recognition of the first Black republic of the Americas. In the town of Bo- a prosperous notary, Ludovic Possible, decides to take a bold step to secure the future of his community. He opens a schoolhouse where local children can learn both artisanal skills and the essential ability to read and write. For Ludovic, education represents the best chance for the people of Bo-to rise above their hardships and build a prosperous future-especially for A-, a quiet and enigmatic girl whose mother-s marvelous stories captivate him. The tranquility of Bo-is soon shattered, however, by a series of duels that pit families, neighbors, and even animals
