Connecticut, 1830s. Thirteen-year-old P. T. Heliodor, the son of a groom, a dreamer and visionary, inherits from his father Nickel Island - the land that Heliodor the elder always called a kingdom, and himself a king. Since childhood, P. T. dreamed of his future possessions and a loud title - he imagined how, thanks to them, he would pull the whole family out of poverty and there would be no sorrow. But the heir will be disappointed: in fact, Nickel Island is not a kingdom at all, but a piece of land in the swamps, where all the persecuted and outcasts have found refuge. Sensitive, compassionate and at the same time enterprising P. T. Heliodor decides to take care of his subjects and with their help fulfill his cherished dream - to open a theater of miracles with enchanting illusions. Guido Zgardoli is one of the most famous Italian authors of children's books. Zgardoli's books for children and teenagers have been published by major Italian publishing houses and have won prestigious literary awards, including the Andersen Magazine National Prize in 2009, 2015 and 2018.