Twelve-year-old Anya, following yet another row with her mum, discovers a mysterious stranger in her secret hideaway. The stranger, who has taken up residence in an abandoned house next door, opens up a fantastical world to the girl, one hidden within the everyday routine of summer life at the dacha. However, not everyone is prepared to accept her friendship with a grown man who clearly has something to hide. Anya, too, is in for a shock and disappointment when it turns out she is not the only one — the mysterious stranger is also spending time with her friend Amaranta, giving her gifts and telling her stories as well. They are angry both with him and with each other. The stranger is both their biggest secret and the bone of contention.
