| \n We hope you can join us at the shop on \;Tuesday\, February 25 at 6:00 pm\, \;to welcome \;Maine author Ellen Baker \;and \;celebrate the paperback release of her wonderful novel \;The Hidden Life of Cecily Larson. \;Nancy read the book \;in just three nights\, saying it grabbed her from the first page. "\;Ellen has created vivid characters you root for\, don'\;t root for\, and love."\; \n\n \; \n\n In 1924\, at age four\, Cecily&rsquo\;s mother reluctantly drops her off at an orphanage in Chicago\, promising to return when she&rsquo\;s made enough money to support them both. But she never returns and\, \;at age seven\, Cecily is sold to a traveling circus. \;Ninety years later\, Cecily is living a quiet life in Minnesota when her family surprises her with an at-home DNA test. The results throw into question everything about the family Cecily has raised and claimed as her own for nearly seventy years. Cecily and her family must now decide \;what family and forgiveness mean. \n\n \; \n\n Monica Wood\, author of \;How to Read a Book\, \;gives high praise to \;Hidden Life: \;"\;Ellen has written the \;quintessential escape novel\, \;whose overflowing plot involves three generations of women\, family secrets\, a one-ring circus (really)\, and the pleasure of historical flashbacks. \;Light a fire and settle in."\; \n\n \; \n\n Ellen\, who is originally from Minnesota\, now lives in Maine. \;The Hidden Life of Cecily Larson \;is her third novel\; her fourth\, which takes place on the Maine coast\, will be published in 2026. \n\n \; \n\n Your devoted booksellers\, \n\n Nancy\, Julia\, Catlin\, Barb\, Lindsay\, Marcy\, Cara\, Claudia\, Jeremiah &\; Diana \n | \n 