ALA Booklist (Tue Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2017)

Davy David is an orphan in the conservative town of Brownvale, which is controlled by corrupt Parson Fall. Davy's sanctuary is the town library, where he pores over a book titled Renaissance Angels, before creating his own art in the dirt, using twigs and a broom. Scary old Miss Flint, who has been watching him, engages the 13-year-old to drive her to her final resting place, a cottage on the ocean 200 miles away. Along the way, they and Davy's adopted mutt, George, engage in some larceny, experience a miracle or two, and find forgiveness and a new home. Frequent references to It's a Wonderful Life indicate the tone of this story, a bittersweet gem of tenderness and imagination. Although not a humorous book, there are definite moments of levity, as when the two grant a truckload of stolen turkeys their freedom on Christmas Eve. It may be challenging to find the audience, but the payoff is a charming adventure with a hero (and his dog) who will warm your heart.

Horn Book (Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2018)

Homeless thirteen-year-old orphan Davy loves art so much he brushes pictures into the dirt around the ramshackle town of Brownvale. When elderly Miss Flint, former curator of a now-deserted museum, (humorously) hires the child as her driver, Davy's life expands even as hers ebbs. Blending allusions to classic films, Renaissance art, and Celtic spiritual beliefs, this ambiguously set Christmastime tale fashions gentle joys out of grim circumstances.

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Davy David lives in the shadows of Brownvale, a down-on-its-luck town ruled by the ominous Parson Fall. Davy surreptitiously scratches dirt angels in the wee hours, until an unfortunate encounter with the reverend forces him to skip town. Coincidentally, town recluse (and supposed witch) Miss Flint also wants to escape Brownvale, and she hires Davy as her driver (never mind that he is only 13 and can-t drive). What follows is a grand adventure full of surprises and inexplicable mysteries, culminating in a bittersweet ending that will stay with readers. Miss Flint and Davy are exact opposites-she is cantankerous and wily, he is guileless and kind-and Young (the Dustlands trilogy) gradually builds a tender, believable friendship between them. Their road trip mishaps are amusing (several instances of grand theft auto are involved), and the mysteries that surface will have readers riveted. Gorgeous writing combines with a hauntingly bleak near-future setting, a whiff of holiday magic, and a transcendent story arc to make this novel feel like the classic it deserves to become. Ages 8-12. (Nov.)

School Library Journal (Fri Sep 01 00:00:00 CDT 2017)

Gr 4-6Davy Davidson lives a bleak existence. His mother died in childbirth, and the children's home he was raised in has long since closed. His small town is run by a menacing, hypocritical parson who is determined to drive out of town those who don't subscribe to puritanical values. Now 13 and on his own, Davey takes solace in art. His life changes when he meets the eccentric Miss Flint, who plans to die on her 80th birthday in her childhood home and needs a driver to take her there. Initially just a business arrangement, the road trip evolves into a miraculous journey as Davy and Miss Flint race against time and develop a close friendship. Part one has a somewhat dystopian tone. It is difficult to get a sense of the time period or setting, and it is unclear why the parson has so much power. Many minor characters are introduced in this section who are never to be seen again. When Davy and Miss Flint meet, it's a welcome relief. Part two takes place in a somewhat more familiar world and adds some needed energy and humor. The characters are unlikely friends and an enjoyable pair of outlaws. The novel takes a fantastical turn when Miss Flint begins to age backwards. VERDICT This fairy talelike novel has good potential as a read- aloud and is just quirky enough to not be sentimental.Juliet Morefield, Belmont Library, Portland, OR