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couillac's review against another edition
4.0
A beautifully written, very emotional story about sisterhood, love, and loss. This is one that tugs on your heart strings over and over again. At times, I admit to feeling a bit manipulated - there is just so much loss in this book, and my first reaction upon finishing was that it was too much. Too much for one family and one story, and too much to ask the reader to take on. I don't think that makes the story any less impactful, and there are plenty of young readers who love sad animal stories and emotional family stories who will love this. It's beautifully done, there is no doubt. But others may feel like the tragedy is too overwhelming. Very well-done, but perhaps not for every reader.
mrs_fitzreads's review against another edition
4.0
Heartbreaking story of love and loss. I loved how the authors paired the characters voices and left the story to unravel. What a beautiful story to share with all middle grade students and adults alike.
chloesaffronsmith's review against another edition
4.0
This book was super sweet and heartwarming. It approached death in a very accessible, relatable way that wasn’t too much but just enough to get the emotions and empathy across.
I would definitely recommend this book for upper KS2 for more mature readers that can handle themes of grief and death. It was sweet to think of humans coming back as animals to protect loved ones and to think we all have a spirit animal watching over us somewhere.
There were some really complex layers of emotion and meaning in this book that could be picked apart as an adult reader such as Sam’s brother’s PTSD and Sylvie’s possible OCD as a result of the mothers death.
Overall an entertaining, emotional but warm book that could be good for a confident year 5/6 reader.
I would definitely recommend this book for upper KS2 for more mature readers that can handle themes of grief and death. It was sweet to think of humans coming back as animals to protect loved ones and to think we all have a spirit animal watching over us somewhere.
There were some really complex layers of emotion and meaning in this book that could be picked apart as an adult reader such as Sam’s brother’s PTSD and Sylvie’s possible OCD as a result of the mothers death.
Overall an entertaining, emotional but warm book that could be good for a confident year 5/6 reader.
nicrtay's review against another edition
5.0
Recommended for: Older children who have experienced loss.
Remarks: An emotional and beautifully-written story about a child dealing with the grief of losing a sibling.
Remarks: An emotional and beautifully-written story about a child dealing with the grief of losing a sibling.
angiebayne's review against another edition
4.0
Jules and Sylvie are sisters. Jules is obsessed with rocks. Sylvie is obsessed with running. One of the things they do is find wish rocks to throw in the slip, a place where the river behind their house flows underground. The wishes can be burning wishes that are wished for over and over again or ordinary wishes. Jules doesn't have a burning wish, but Sylvie always wishes to run faster. Jules and Sylvie's mom died when they were very young and their dad has rules about what they can and cannot do while he is gone. One of the things is going to the slip. Then one morning Sylvia has a wish rock that she must use. She runs to the slip and falls in, her body is never found. Jules and her dad are now a unit of two and overcome with grief.
Next door to Jules and Sylvie lives Sam. He is best friends with the sisters. Sam's brother Elk is back from the war in Afghanistan and not the same. Elk and his best friend Zeke went to war together and only Elk came home. Elk wonders the woods looking for Zeke's spirit or acceptance of what happened. Sam's burning wish was for Elk to come home, but now he wishes to see the legendary catamount who has not been seen in a long time. Signs have been spotted indicating the catamount is back.
At the same time Sylvie is falling to her death, a mother fox is about to give birth. A young female fox named Senna is born with the knowledge that she is not like her brothers or parents. She is connected to the human world and to Jules. There is something she has to do for that grieving family.
This is a wonderful mix of a book. Almost all the characters are dealing with grief of some kind. They all handle it differently which gives readers multiple perspectives on grief. There is anger and sadness and loneliness and denial. All the stages of grief seem to be represented through the different characters. There is also the animal connection through the catamount and the fox. Are these animals reincarnated spirits of Sylvie and Zeke? Is there something supernatural going on? Everything is connected in a way. This was a lovely story.
Next door to Jules and Sylvie lives Sam. He is best friends with the sisters. Sam's brother Elk is back from the war in Afghanistan and not the same. Elk and his best friend Zeke went to war together and only Elk came home. Elk wonders the woods looking for Zeke's spirit or acceptance of what happened. Sam's burning wish was for Elk to come home, but now he wishes to see the legendary catamount who has not been seen in a long time. Signs have been spotted indicating the catamount is back.
At the same time Sylvie is falling to her death, a mother fox is about to give birth. A young female fox named Senna is born with the knowledge that she is not like her brothers or parents. She is connected to the human world and to Jules. There is something she has to do for that grieving family.
This is a wonderful mix of a book. Almost all the characters are dealing with grief of some kind. They all handle it differently which gives readers multiple perspectives on grief. There is anger and sadness and loneliness and denial. All the stages of grief seem to be represented through the different characters. There is also the animal connection through the catamount and the fox. Are these animals reincarnated spirits of Sylvie and Zeke? Is there something supernatural going on? Everything is connected in a way. This was a lovely story.
mrericsully's review against another edition
3.0
I'm torn about my thoughts in this book. On one hand, it is a tear jerker and succeeded in roping me in enough to make me sad and bring tears to my eyes. On the other hand, the idea of reincarnation and of unfinished business is abhorrent to me. Add to that some obvious transparencies (although one twist did surprise me), an unnecessary folklore, and a VERY underdeveloped character (the father who has suffered more tragic loss than the main characters) and it leaves me disappointed or at least thinking it could have been something better.
buglikeareader's review against another edition
4.0
Chapter 11: Slyvie has been born as the little fox cub and the idea of 'kennen' is so fascinating to me and so far the book has been very clear and vivid in my mind and I can tell I will really enjoy it (or atleast I really hope I will)
Another thing!!! This book involves very serious issues from a childs perspective, very important! I love it, living for it.
Chapter 19, page 143: omg I got goosbumps, this part is from sennas pov (the fox) and she spoke about a catamount that follows the man in the woods. YA JOKING. Zeke is the catamount and hes Elks kennen I wanna cry gives me chills.
This book was so great and it will always hold a special place with me
Another thing!!! This book involves very serious issues from a childs perspective, very important! I love it, living for it.
Chapter 19, page 143: omg I got goosbumps, this part is from sennas pov (the fox) and she spoke about a catamount that follows the man in the woods. YA JOKING. Zeke is the catamount and hes Elks kennen I wanna cry gives me chills.
This book was so great and it will always hold a special place with me