The "Hammer" is our city with a paradoxical identity. Hamilton's vibrant nature, picturesque hiking trails, and endless waterfalls are surrounded by robust industry with harsh and hardened steel plants and manufacturing mills. This contrast reminds us that this is a city that has a conscious mix of immigrants and born and bred Hamiltonians where multiculturalism and diversity are celebrated along with indigenous heritage. It's a place where street smarts are combined with book smarts, both equal in importance. Spend enough time here and you'll notice the cosmic dissimilarity betweenBarton Street and Main Street West. It is a city filled with art, strength, grit, and beauty and so are the people that live there. Author Meeks Kolich poses the question, in such an illogical place, how does one fine oneself? How doesone stay compassionate? How does one believe in themselves? This tale of The Hammer and The Mountain aims to answer such questions by following three families that couldn't be more different yet have a common thread that runs throughout, they call Hamilton home.