Without resorting to stereotypes, Jacobson creates a rich cast of characters who are realistic and complex. The prose flows naturally and the pacing is swift…A skillfully written and heartfelt novel about a family making a new home, recovering from grief, and the town full of people who join them on their journey.
—School Library Journal (starred review)
Jacobson memorably sketches Lowen’s family dynamics, particularly his complicated relationship with his older brother, and his journey offers a compelling portrait of community and rebirth. Andrews’s comics panels, which appear at several key intervals in the text, offer further insight into Lowen’s struggles, particularly his grief over Abe’s death.
—Publishers Weekly
Jacobson insightfully examines the dynamics of small-town life and strategies for revitalization as well as the landscape of Lowen’s complex grief and survivor’s guilt…A rich, thoughtful exploration of individual and community resilience.
—Kirkus Reviews