Awards

• Commended for CCBC Best Books 2013 (Canada)

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9781459800656

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Reviews

A moving story about the bonds of family...This is a highly engaging, high interest novel that addresses tough family issues. The reader easily empathizes with Sid as he grapples with tough decisions.-- Library Media Connection An absolute gem of a book about what makes a family a family as well as friendship, love, tolerance and so much more...As a coming-of-age book, this is a winner...Highly recomended.-- TriState YA Book Review Committee Appealing, original characters--especially Sid, eccentric but high-functioning--are a strong suit...Harvey portrays parental mental illness and the long-term effects of childhood trauma with compassionate insight.-- Kirkus Reviews Because of its great characters this story is multidimensional, realistic, and human, yet also relatable, optimistic, and bright.-- YALSA YA Galley Teen Review Harvey does a beautiful job balancing the story's many plot threads, while creating realistic, compelling characters. Identity, mental illness, social security (and insecurity), racial concerns, and recovery from trauma are all themes that surface throughout the novel without ever overwhelming the strong, skillfully told story.-- Booklist Harvey does a good job crafting her characters. Sid is believable as a loner artist with a soft-spot for the downtrodden.-- Resource Links Realistic, moving, and paints a wonderful picture of nontraditional families.-- Southwest Ohio and Neighboring Libraries (SWON) The characters are wonderful and well-drawn...Chloe's exuberance is a perfect foil to Sid's need for peace and quiet daily. She provides a bit of needed humor along the way. Each has a unique voice and plays an important role in the unfolding drama...The setting itself seems like a character that soothes with a peaceful calm that envelops those living there. Families come in all shapes, and this book is testament to that.-- Sal's Fiction Addiction blog Harvey's expert pacing of Sid's story is slowly hypnotic. Her characterization is top notch. She patiently reveals their personalities. Chloe, in particular, is a delightful supporting character who adds power to the novel. These characters are well constructed, uniquely defined by their actions and speech, and eminently engaging. Harvey does not shy away from the reality of difficult situations and faithfully depicts Devi's mental illness, Wain's troubled existence, and Fariza's thaw from the chilling events that brought her to Sid's life. An excellent read, put this book in the hands of fans of Louis Sacher's Holes.-- VOYA A quiet but moving story about the different forms family can take...16-year-old Sid has grown up happily with foster parents on an island of Canada's west coast, an evocative setting that Harvey (Death Benefits) paints with care.-- Publishers Weekly

Because of its great characters this story is multidimensional, realistic, and human, yet also relatable, optimistic, and bright. --YALSA YA Galley Teen Review (08/21/2012) Appealing, original characters--especially Sid, eccentric but high-functioning--are a strong suit...Harvey portrays parental mental illness and the long-term effects of childhood trauma with compassionate insight. -- (09/15/2012) Harvey does a beautiful job balancing the story's many plot threads, while creating realistic, compelling characters. Identity, mental illness, social security (and insecurity), racial concerns, and recovery from trauma are all themes that surface throughout the novel without ever overwhelming the strong, skillfully told story. -- (12/01/2012) A moving story about the bonds of family...This is a highly engaging, high interest novel that addresses tough family issues. The reader easily empathizes with Sid as he grapples with tough decisions. -- (05/01/2013) An absolute gem of a book about what makes a family a family as well as friendship, love, tolerance and so much more...As a coming-of-age book, this is a winner...Highly recomended. -- (01/01/2013) Realistic, moving, and paints a wonderful picture of nontraditional families. --Southwest Ohio and Neighboring Libraries (SWON) (12/17/2013) The characters are wonderful and well-drawn...Chloe's exuberance is a perfect foil to Sid's need for peace and quiet daily. She provides a bit of needed humor along the way. Each has a unique voice and plays an important role in the unfolding drama...The setting itself seems like a character that soothes with a peaceful calm that envelops those living there. Families come in all shapes, and this book is testament to that. -- (02/17/2013) Harvey does a good job crafting her characters. Sid is believable as a loner artist with a soft-spot for the downtrodden. -- (12/01/2012) Harvey's expert pacing of Sid's story is slowly hypnotic. Her characterization is top notch. She patiently reveals their personalities. Chloe, in particular, is a delightful supporting character who adds power to the novel. These characters are well constructed, uniquely defined by their actions and speech, and eminently engaging. Harvey does not shy away from the reality of difficult situations and faithfully depicts Devi's mental illness, Wain's troubled existence, and Fariza's thaw from the chilling events that brought her to Sid's life. An excellent read, put this book in the hands of fans of Louis Sacher's Holes. -- (12/01/2012) A quiet but moving story about the different forms family can take...16-year-old Sid has grown up happily with foster parents on an island of Canada's west coast, an evocative setting that Harvey (Death Benefits) paints with care. -- (09/24/2012)

Harvey does a beautiful job balancing the story's many plot threads, while creating realistic, compelling characters. Identity, mental illness, social security (and insecurity), racial concerns, and recovery from trauma are all themes that surface throughout the novel without ever overwhelming the strong, skillfully told story. -- (12/01/2012) A moving story about the bonds of family...This is a highly engaging, high interest novel that addresses tough family issues. The reader easily empathizes with Sid as he grapples with tough decisions. -- (05/01/2013) The characters are wonderful and well-drawn...Chloe's exuberance is a perfect foil to Sid's need for peace and quiet daily. She provides a bit of needed humor along the way. Each has a unique voice and plays an important role in the unfolding drama...The setting itself seems like a character that soothes with a peaceful calm that envelops those living there. Families come in all shapes, and this book is testament to that. -- (02/17/2013) An absolute gem of a book about what makes a family a family as well as friendship, love, tolerance and so much more...As a coming-of-age book, this is a winner...Highly recomended. -- (01/01/2013) Realistic, moving, and paints a wonderful picture of nontraditional families. --Southwest Ohio and Neighboring Libraries (SWON) (12/17/2013) Because of its great characters this story is multidimensional, realistic, and human, yet also relatable, optimistic, and bright. --YALSA YA Galley Teen Review (08/21/2012) Appealing, original characters--especially Sid, eccentric but high-functioning--are a strong suit...Harvey portrays parental mental illness and the long-term effects of childhood trauma with compassionate insight. -- (09/15/2012) Harvey does a good job crafting her characters. Sid is believable as a loner artist with a soft-spot for the downtrodden. -- (12/01/2012) Harvey's expert pacing of Sid's story is slowly hypnotic. Her characterization is top notch. She patiently reveals their personalities. Chloe, in particular, is a delightful supporting character who adds power to the novel. These characters are well constructed, uniquely defined by their actions and speech, and eminently engaging. Harvey does not shy away from the reality of difficult situations and faithfully depicts Devi's mental illness, Wain's troubled existence, and Fariza's thaw from the chilling events that brought her to Sid's life. An excellent read, put this book in the hands of fans of Louis Sacher's Holes. -- (12/01/2012) A quiet but moving story about the different forms family can take...16-year-old Sid has grown up happily with foster parents on an island of Canada's west coast, an evocative setting that Harvey (Death Benefits) paints with care. -- (09/24/2012)

Because of its great characters this story is multidimensional, realistic, and human, yet also relatable, optimistic, and bright. --YALSA YA Galley Teen Review (08/21/2012) Appealing, original characters--especially Sid, eccentric but high-functioning--are a strong suit...Harvey portrays parental mental illness and the long-term effects of childhood trauma with compassionate insight. -- (09/15/2012) Harvey does a beautiful job balancing the story's many plot threads, while creating realistic, compelling characters. Identity, mental illness, social security (and insecurity), racial concerns, and recovery from trauma are all themes that surface throughout the novel without ever overwhelming the strong, skillfully told story. -- (12/01/2012) A moving story about the bonds of family...This is a highly engaging, high interest novel that addresses tough family issues. The reader easily empathizes with Sid as he grapples with tough decisions. -- (05/01/2013) The characters are wonderful and well-drawn...Chloe's exuberance is a perfect foil to Sid's need for peace and quiet daily. She provides a bit of needed humor along the way. Each has a unique voice and plays an important role in the unfolding drama...The setting itself seems like a character that soothes with a peaceful calm that envelops those living there. Families come in all shapes, and this book is testament to that. -- (02/17/2013) Harvey does a good job crafting her characters. Sid is believable as a loner artist with a soft-spot for the downtrodden. -- (12/01/2012) An absolute gem of a book about what makes a family a family as well as friendship, love, tolerance and so much more...As a coming-of-age book, this is a winner...Highly recomended. -- (01/01/2013) Realistic, moving, and paints a wonderful picture of nontraditional families. --Southwest Ohio and Neighboring Libraries (SWON) (12/17/2013) Harvey's expert pacing of Sid's story is slowly hypnotic. Her characterization is top notch. She patiently reveals their personalities. Chloe, in particular, is a delightful supporting character who adds power to the novel. These characters are well constructed, uniquely defined by their actions and speech, and eminently engaging. Harvey does not shy away from the reality of difficult situations and faithfully depicts Devi's mental illness, Wain's troubled existence, and Fariza's thaw from the chilling events that brought her to Sid's life. An excellent read, put this book in the hands of fans of Louis Sacher's Holes. -- (12/01/2012) A quiet but moving story about the different forms family can take...16-year-old Sid has grown up happily with foster parents on an island of Canada's west coast, an evocative setting that Harvey (Death Benefits) paints with care. -- (09/24/2012)

Author Information

Sarah N. Harvey is the author of over a dozen acclaimed books for teens and young children. She lives in Esquimalt, British Columbia, where she is a freelance editor and proud grandmother of three amazing grandchildren.

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