The Mystery of Altamira

Eleven-year-old Tonio lives with his parents in Santander, Spain not far from Altamira, among the most famous prehistoric cave paintings ever discovered. His father, Anthony, is the proprietor of Antonio's Servicio, the most popular garage in the area and his mother, Teresa, is a school teacher. In honor of The Feast of St. James, a national holiday, Tonio and Teresa have off from school and Antonio decides to take the family on an outing to the new Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao. On their return, they collide with a scooter carrying two American newlyweds on their way to the same museum. In the instant when his parents are killed, Tonio becomes an orphan. His grandparents are called to the hospital, where they immediately decide to care for him during his recovery. But, upon arriving at their home, Tonio is overcome with grief and lurches into a furious storm to escape the burden of his loss. Taking refuge in an abandoned cave, he awakens a boy he learns is called Small Boy, and who is nearly his own age. The only difference is that Small Boy has slumbered there undisturbed for 20,000 years.

The Mystery of Altamira is a story of loss, loneliness, friendship, and self-discovery. Ultimately, it is a story of family and finding one's way home.