School Library Journal Starred Review (Fri Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2022)

Gr 37 Award-winning Canadian author Ellis once again gives readers an unforgettable opportunity to build global awareness and connection in this collection of 10 short stories that serves as a companion to 2017's Sit . Each independent story features a main character on their 11th birthdayan auspicious day for many, an ordinary day for some, a day of survival for others. Oma and her family are fleeing their country in a rubber dinghy in an attempt to find a better life. Marmalay is struggling to find her voice among her peers. Lazlo is following his father through Budapest before having to choose between his morals and his parent. Connor stumbles on evidence that people's feelings can be so different from what they share. From crossing a border to escape gang violence to discovering one's independence, the characters in this collection exhibit the same emotions as kids everywhere: fear, annoyance, relief, confusion, love. Each realistic entry offers a window to commonality and illustrates that stepping forward, no matter the situation, is courageous. Ellis seamlessly weaves robust imagery, honest characters, strong pacing, humor, and spot-on word choice, underscoring the distinct and memorable birthday each child experiences. Practiced readers will fly through the collection, while reluctant readers will appreciate the brevity and high interest content. VERDICT A first purchase for school and public libraries and a first recommendation for teachers, homeschoolers, and independent readers. Kate Davis

ALA Booklist (Thu Apr 28 00:00:00 CDT 2022)

In Ellis' latest, linked short stories all involve birthdays, decisions, and literal and figurative steps into the future. Should Connor walk his dog on a street he's never been on before, and if he does, will the fragments of pottery he finds there change his view of his parents, sister, and what he calls "the mangy mongrel?" Can a rose crystal link two boys who live half a world apart? What will happen to Oma when the refugee boat she's on capsizes? And will Lazlo be able to walk away from the shock of discovering his father's ties to a Nazi organization? Readers who like to ponder the lives of kids both like and unlike themselves will find much to chew on in this companion to the author's previous collection, Sit (2017). While the stories aren't comfortable, they all reassure young people they are capable of making important discoveries and decisions on their own. Royalties from the book are being donated to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees. A worthy addition for all collections.

Kirkus Reviews

Ten short stories, all featuring children turning 11 years old, attempt to show the power of empathy.In three of the stories, the protagonists, all refugees who present as children of color, find resilience through community. In the other seven tales, a relatively privileged child who reads as White by default learns "to step into someone else's shoes." In the opening story, Connor, a young boy, stumbles across a bit of trash that helps him see beyond family annoyances; with no way of knowing who wrote the miserable words he reads on a broken plate, he has the epiphany that any stranger he meets could be inwardly suffering. Ellis highlights the necessity of empathy for people who are less fortunate, such as in the closing tale about a soup kitchen volunteer who realizes his tormentor is "ashamed to be hungry." In the story "Rock," Dom, a shy Canadian boy, gets a rose crystal for his birthday that inadvertently conjures up a poor boy from Madagascar who wishes he could afford a bag of rice and a dress for his mother. Dom gains courage and a new friend; however, his efforts to help the Malagasy boy-who ultimately dies-smack of saviorism. It's surprising that such unbalanced representation comes from Ellis (My Story Starts Here, 2019), who is acclaimed for showing that refugee children have many of the same goals and dreams as children from more secure environments.A well-intentioned clarion call for human solidarity that occasionally reduces less-fortunate people to objects of pity. (Short stories. 8-10)