Language: G (2 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG-13 (mention of a father beating on his son; the Dad tries to hit the son, but is stopped)
BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
12yo Wren's Cherokee mother has been missing for 5 years, three months and 12 days. Wren is starting middle school, missing her Mom and frustrated with her white Police Chief Dad who refuses to share any information about the investigation. Wren refuses to stop looking for her Mom and spends her days searching and practicing her detective skill by finding missing pets. When Wren receives help from an unexpected source and one of the pets turns up badly injured, she suddenly finds herself deeper in trouble than she ever expected to be.
I really loved the relationships in this book. Wren's father is white and her grandmother is Cherokee and her relationship with both family members feels authentic and loving, but not always easy. The other important relationships in the book - her friend Brantley (white), her teacher (white) and Landry (her father's deputy) are also very realistic and positive. I also appreciated the handling of the current crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women- it does not shy away from the issue, but neither does it make it too overwhelming for a middle school audience. Lastly, the book handles issues of bullying, being biracial, child abuse and animal abuse exceptionally well. Each of these issues are heavy and tough to navigate, but they never felt overwhelming and it never felt as if Wren was left to deal with them all be herself and without support.
Jen VanHaaften, Middle School Librarian
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