ALA Booklist (Tue Dec 01 00:00:00 CST 2020)

Rigel's world is turned upside down when her parents decide to split up and she learns that she, her mother, and sisters will be trading their life in the Alaska Bush for a softer existence in Connecticut. Before leaving, her father promises she'll be able to return with him after a year, but as time passes by, that promise seems less and less likely. But she gradually makes friends and start to learn to enjoy herself in a place she was determined to hate, not to mention that, for better or for worse, life goes on. Carr's heartfelt debut features classic middle-school problems, like dodging mean kids, as well as Rigel's vivid feelings of displacement and deep love for nature. Though the tween spends a lot of time comparing her new home with her beloved Alaska, she eventually gets enough perspective to find true appreciation for her new surroundings. The ending is hopeful at all angles, satisfyingly wrapping up each little plot point. Hand this thoughtful novel to nature-loving readers who like character-driven stories about family.

Kirkus Reviews

Divorce separated Rigel from her dad and beloved home in Alaska's remote interior; now living in Connecticut with her mother and sisters, she clings to his promise: If she sticks it out for a year, she can return.Willow, 14; Rigel, 11; and Izzy, 5, were raised off the grid in a two-room cabin without electricity or indoor plumbing and were educated by mail-a life their parents, Bear and Lila, chose. Living with Lila's mother suits Willow and Izzy. Grandma's nice, her home's amenities (a TV room, appliances, four bathrooms!) are amazing, and school is fun. Rigel, on the other hand, detests the noise; the orange, light-polluted night sky; and the fake, plastic, urban world her father also despises. At school she feels like an exotic outsider, a target for a posse of mean girls. When her one tentative friendship sputters, Rigel despairs until she befriends an injured crow behind the school. Aware that taming wild animals puts them at risk, Rigel still can't resist feeding and naming it. Blueberry reminds her of Alaska's ravens and provides companionship when Bear's postcards and calls taper off. Rigel's family is White; a Native Alaskan community and several secondary characters of color are respectfully, if briefly, portrayed. The clichéd mean girls excepted, characters are believable and engaging. Rigel herself-homesick for her old life, uncertain (and ambivalent) about how to navigate this new one-is sure to resonate with young, housebound readers.A likable, timely debut. (Fiction. 8-12)

School Library Journal (Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 CST 2021)

Gr 4-7 Eleven-year-old Rigel Harman is a happy kid who loves living off the grid with her close-knit family in Alaska. Rigel's life looks very different from most American students; she hunts, takes correspondence classes by mail instead of attending school, and has no running water or electricity. Things change when her parents divorce, and she and her sisters move to the Connecticut suburbs with their mother to live with a grandmother they've never met. But Rigel has a secret pact with her father: After one year, she can come home. Rigel hates middle school and Connecticut. She misses real nature and feels out of place. She befriends a small, wounded crow living behind her school and spends her free time with it. Caring for the crow helps her make friends, reconnect with her family, and fit in while still being herself. Rigel is a fun character; she has a lot in common with average tweens trying to find their place in the world, but her experiences in Alaska may be an informative peek into different lifestyles. The story shows how a strong family structure and the willingness to ask for help can be keys to success; the book also depicts the school library as a sanctuary for students. VERDICT This charming novel is recommended for realistic fiction fans who love nature and animals. Christina Pesiri, Island Trees H.S., Levittown, NY