Beyond Ivy Walls

In 1903, Sadie West is determined to provide for her family after her father’s farm accident, but her work at the feather duster factory in Monticello, IA, barely pays for the bare necessities. Curled up in an abandoned building, smelling of turkey feathers, and smarting from the gossip at work, Sadie is not sure how much longer she will survive in the city, until she befriends a blue coonhound. The dog turns out to belong to a heavily scarred hermit with little experience in personal relationships or mannerly conversations. He does, however, need help settling his parents’ estate (which includes the building where Sadie is squatting) and strikes up an uneasy friendship with his unwanted tenant. As rumors swirl about this bustling Iowa town, regarding Otis Taylor and his deserted mansion, Sadie tries to draw the recluse out of his shell by teaching him the latest fad—roller skating.