Finding Zola

Book excerpt: Almost a year ago, a car accident changed Crystal's life. The accident killed Crystal's father and left her in a wheelchair. Now, Crystal and her mother are staying at the home of Grandmother Emilia, who has just passed away. They face the painful task of sorting through Gram's possessions—and their own memories. Then Crystal's mother, an artist, is offered an unexpected chance to exhibit her work at a gallery in New Mexico—an opportunity she can't afford to turn down. While her mother is gone, Crystal is left in the care of Zola, a friend of her grandmother's. One day Zola suddenly disappears. A series of alarming incidents convinces Crystal that she must find Zola as quickly as possible. Two mysteries escalate simultaneously in Marianne Mitchell's vividly written novel. The question "Where's Zola?" forces Crystal to confront another, equally baffling question: Now that her life has changed so dramatically, who is Crystal?