A dealer in antique toys makes two astonishing discoveries. Five poor youngsters in a neighborhood band come to understand that secrets are hidden everywhere. A Ph.D. candidate uncovers a long-hidden promise. A lion embraces the magic of life. In this 2017 New York Times Notable Book of the Year—his first work of fiction since his National Book Award winner The Good Lord Bird—James McBride explores what we can learn about ourselves as we struggle to understand one another. These seven stories dive into the gulf between what is true and what we think is true, and each is a proof of McBride's virtuoso talents as a storyteller and a creator of unforgettable characters.