Miho's backyard had always been the sea. The creatures within it were an endless source of fascination. But when the sea steals away her small family, she finds herself the ward of an uncle she has never met and submerged in a world she has never known: Japan.

From the city of Nagoya to the seaside town of Goza, Miho struggles to fit in and navigate the language, the culture and her own grief. It is in Goza that she discovers her surprising family history and finds new teachers. She is befriended by an old man who becomes her Sensei and teaches her Sho-do, The Way of the Brush. And it is there she meets Gaia, the living entity of the Earth. Gaia grants her amazing powers to connect with the "minds in the water" and Miho is given access and understanding to all the world's oceans. Will she be able to use her powers to help balance the traditions of the past with the demands of the present? Can she overcome her outsider status to help others understand The Way of Water?

About The Author

Lee Welles is a freelance writer who lives and works in upstate New York. The Gaia Girls series was inspired by a combination of her personal experience as a summer camp nature director, her love of the outdoors, and reading about Gaia Theory. Ms. Welles regularly appears on television and radio as a wellness expert and writes a weekly wellness column. She lives in Corning, New York. You can visit Lee's blog at http://gaiagirls.com/blog/