A Book Riot "Best New Children's Book of August 2023"
A School Library Journal Best Book of 2023
A 2024 Bank Street Best Book of the Year
"Bird's latest novel is a big-hearted story of growing up through hardship, told in language rich with metaphor and poetry. ... Highly recommended for middle school and public libraries, especially those seeking to add works from contemporary Native voices."--School Library Journal, starred review
"Author Bird crafts this
deeply felt ode to familial love with authoritative prose.... Opin's palpable fears, joys, and unrelenting hope buoy this tale of resilience." --
Publishers Weekly, starred review "James Bird, who has been homeless and is of Ojibwe descent, writes with rare authority, insight, and compassion that invites deep empathy from readers.
He has done a beautiful job of creating an unforgettable family, who, as Inde says, "may be broke, but we're not broken." -- Booklist,
starred review "An urban Native American boy's gripping survival story...
complex and emotionally resonant." --
Kirkus Reviews
