Where the Forest Meets the Stars

Joanna Teale returns to her graduate research on nesting birds in rural Illinois following the loss of her mother and her own battle with breast cancer. She works intensively until a mysterious barefoot child covered in bruises arrives at her cabin. The girl, who calls herself Ursa, claims to have been sent from the stars to witness five miracles. Concerned about the child's circumstances, Jo allows her to stay while investigating her background. Jo seeks help from her reclusive neighbor, Gabriel Nash, as they both become puzzled by Ursa's unusual abilities and knowledge, including her understanding of Shakespeare. The three form a close bond over the summer, but they face difficult decisions as Ursa approaches her fifth miracle. When her dangerous past catches up with them, the group's painful secrets are revealed, and their futures become uncertain.