The distant sea has not touched me

There are stories of exceptional children chosen from birth to accomplish great tasks and overcome evil. But this is not such a story. Sometimes, you are an ordinary child. Sometimes, you must choose for yourself. This is the story of Lalani Sarita, a 12-year-old girl living on Sanlagita Island in the shadow of a vengeful mountain. When she makes a fateful wish that puts her already vulnerable village at risk, she sets out across the distant sea in search of life's good fortune. Great men have died on the same journey. What hope can an ordinary girl have? Inspired by Philippine folklore, Lalani of the Distant Sea introduces readers to a world of magical creatures, such as the Bai Vinca, the giant bird; the Ditassa Ulud, a half-woman, half-serpent; the Mindorin, a race of creatures inspired by water buffalo; and the Winpo—trees that eat the souls of the dead.