"Mâelie doesn't know how to relate to her father, a political prisoner in another country whom she has never met, when he is released and immigrates to join her family in Montreal. "Where I come from, you have to say the same things as everyone else or keep quiet," Mâelie's mother tells her. "And your father isn't someone who knows how to keep quiet. Nor is he someone who likes saying the same things as everyone else. So he had some problems." However, ever since he came into Mâelie's life, keeping quiet is the only thing her father has done. Partly because Sami doesn't speak the same language as his daughter, and partly because he doesn't know how to live as a free man anymore. Mâelie has to tame him, like the kitten that she just found, and like Mr. Xavier and his partner seem to be doing with Mei-Li, the little girl they just adopted. Things that are worthwhile aren't always easy."--
