New York Times best-selling author Tracy Chevalier is acclaimed for her own brand of historical fiction. Around the turn of the 19th century on the eastern coast of England, young Mary Anning is struck by lightning. Afterwards, she discovers she possesses a rare gift—the ability to "see" and locate fossils buried deep in the cliffs near her village. Even while facing sexism and speculation about her true intentions, Mary stays true to herself and makes several finds crucial to the advancement of early paleontology.