Odera: An Orphan’s Tale (Second Edition) – Pre-Order

There has not been a love story told this way about a brother and sister, as we have in Eto and Odera, his younger sister, who has Autism Spectrum Disorder, unbeknownst to anyone. Their story is truly amazing.

Orphaned, only because their father woke one day from sleep, packed up like a thief in the night, and left the house, abandoning Eto and Odera. Their mother had died when Odera was two weeks old, and when the only parent they depended on for sustenance left, the world could have caved in on them. And it probably did. But Eto assumed the reins at such an early age and somehow found a way to keep his sister and himself alive. Their journey is inspiring… and at times, it would rip your heart out.

They have a favorite spot at the Forbidden Lake that looks almost like the “Garden of Eden.” Most mornings, Eto would take his sister there to watch the sunrise and the rest of nature roll by, and pick the sweetest fruits from there, but not fish. The forest animals may have believed that the brother and sister were forest dwellers themselves, because they were always there. Brother and sister would then go to the next Lake to fish for hours on end.

Because little Odera was without speech, their already difficult life became even more difficult. But, they wore their smiling faces without any pretense. Each day was new; therefore, their daily ritual must hold, and their lives must be lived to the fullest. It was that belief that sustained both. Odera was particularly gratified with her brother’s unwavering love and the way he took care of her. It brought tears to her eyes.

One day, a freak accident happened on their way from the Lakes; Odera fell into a pit no one knew was there. Eto panicked, because, for a while, Odera had seemingly vanished, and could have been swallowed by murk at the bottom.

Then, there was magic in the dark, and miracles started to happen afterward…