Excellent teacher Mr. Ridley appears from nowhere and accepts a teaching job at the tiny and poor Crowรชs Crossing School. Heรชs an excellent teacher, but questions swirl around him. Why is he here? Where did he come from? And most importantly, why is he digging holes on Shadow Hill? Tazmin doesnรชt care about all that. Sheรชs learning math. Her brother is learning how to read. But the truth has a way of revealing itself, much to Tazminรชs dismay.