Like a gift, this long letter is written by Ale to her younger sister, Giulia, to tell her how much she was wanted, how long she was awaited, and how deeply she was loved when she finally arrived. But seeing Giulia's beauty takes special eyes—eyes that have cared for her, watched over her, protected her, eyes that have spent long hours with her and for her, eyes that, after giving so much, come to understand how much Giulia herself can give in return.
Giulia was born with Down syndrome, and she is (apparently) different from what Ale and her parents had imagined. But Giulia carries a "hidden fruit" within her, one that deserves to grow and ripen.
The author tells this small daily fable with extraordinary tenderness, warmth, and simplicity, letting us discover through a child's eyes the wonder of the treasure hidden in each of us.
— Cristina Tersigni, 1998