The Anchor of Half-Moon Bay

About this book

In the misty, coastal town of Half-Moon Bay, twelve-year-old Xochitl grapples with the sudden disappearance of her father, a renowned local boatbuilder. Left with only a cryptic journal and an unfinished skiff, she navigates the choppy waters of adolescence and grief. As she attempts to complete her father's final project, she crosses paths with Izel, a quiet boy from a rival fishing family who holds secrets about the night her father vanished. Their tentative friendship blossoms into a poignant first romance amidst family feuds and community secrets. Together, they uncover a hidden legacy of smuggling and betrayal that threatens to tear their small town apart, forcing Xochitl to decide whether to anchor herself to the past or set sail toward a dangerous, unknown future.