The Emperor Catfish

Magic can appear where you least expect it … Temper Clarke is a feisty twelve year old who fends for her homeless family by "getting" things they need from those more fortunate. It's a harsh life – one her mom Farrell dreamed of escaping by homesteading in an abandoned old farmhouse somewhere out in the country. When tragedy strikes, Tem vows to take her little sister, Zuri, and head out on their own, to make Farrell's dream come true. Once out in the woods, Tem catches a catfish for their dinner, but Zuri won't let her cook him because he resembles the Chinese emperor in her favorite book. They find a house – but it's inhabited by a feisty old lady, Miss Jo, who soon becomes their protector when a nosy social worker comes looking for them, with the intention of putting them in foster care. The situation seems hopeless – but, wait … Who crashed that strange vehicle near Miss Jo's house? And whose footprints are those leading to her storm cellar? The answers to these questions will lead Miss Jo, Tem, and Zuri to adventures they never thought possible!