The Impossible Thing by Belinda Bauer

In 1920's Yorkshire, men hang over the cliffs to steal eggs from bird's nests, for which collectors pay good money. A young girl named Celie lives on Metland Farm with her family and plucks a red egg from a nest. Over almost thirty years, she is able to get this special-colored egg once annually. Her finds change the fortunes of her family. In present time, Nick and his friend Patrick, attempt to recover an egg in a wooden box that was stolen from Nick. This egg belonged to Nick's father, who left it behind in the attic when he left the family. The Impossible Thing recounts the stories of Celie, Nick and Patrick, the collectors, and two men now who possibly could be the thieves who took Nick's egg. Bauer fills the novel--based on the true story of egg collectors and the Metland Egg--with vivid characters. Very similar in style to Bauer's last novel, Exit.