Twelve Gates to the City by Daniel Black
T.L. has returned to his hometown of Swamp Creek, this time to stay. However, he's haunted by his sister's death all those years ago and when he moves into his recently-deceased mother's house, he struggles to make it his home. His decision to assume the position of Schoolmaster at the local one-room schoolhouse is the only thing he's sure about, and his impact upon the students is palpable. But he still doesn't know what happened to Sister. Not what really happened. As he searches for ultimate truth, he discovers the beauty and the secrets of Swamp Creek. Unlikely characters and events lead T.L. to uncover exactly what happened to Sister and help him, his family, and even his community to finally heal. T.L. is certain that destiny forced him home - to this magical, mystical place called Swamp Creek.