ALA Booklist (Wed Sep 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Millie, Florence, Gabby, and Claire never imagined they would start middle school without their best friend, Rosie. The group of friends struggles to navigate the heartache they share after a tragic car accident takes Rosie's life. When Millie finds an abandoned notebook that she believes may hold answers about Rosie, she faces difficulty persuading her friends to join her in the search for clues. Will their friendship survive this pain? This captivating debut graphic novel from Boehman and Briner artfully captures the unique experience of young grief. The authors approach the subject of death with a gentle understanding that resonates in the deeply personal nature of the story, and the choice to depict each of the characters as a native woodland animal from Maryland further softens the hard edges of the grief. An autumnal color palette evokes a palpable sense of wistfulness and nostalgia in vivid portrayal of a small town. Reminiscent of Brenna Thumler's poignant Sheets (2018), this middle-grade coming-of-age novel is the perfect read for tweens contemplating friendship, loss, and the challenges of growing up.

Kirkus Reviews (Wed Jul 05 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

A group of anthropomorphized animals cope with their BFF's death.The new school year offers a fresh start after a tragic summer accident. But Millie, a deer, still misses her friend Rosie, a cat. At school, Millie meets up with the rest of her squad to share cupcakes in honor of Rosie's birthday (Rosie would have been 13). While the girls still have each other, things just don't feel the same in a quartet. Some days are harder than others, like when someone tries to sit in Rosie's old chair in art class. Fate offers a glimmer of hope: Millie finds a strange book with Rosie's signature symbol at her family's laundromat. The book sets the girls on a quest to get closer to Rosie, who loved to add "a little mystery to the world." Could this be what stops the gang from falling apart altogether? Co-creators Boehman and Briner show off their backgrounds in animation with expressive, full-color sequences that convey the depth of loss, occasionally without words. The setting is fully realized, based on their hometown of Frederick, Maryland. Though the story is fiction, the authors' note reveals further real-life inspiration. All characters are animals, which may add a bit of emotional distance between readers and the story. One of the girls has parents who are two different species.A moving tale of loss and healing. (Graphic fiction. 8-12)

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

Four middle schoolers struggle to cope with the death of a mutual friend in this warmhearted graphic novel debut. Today is the first day of eighth grade for best friends Millie, Gabby, Florence, and Claire-an anthropomorphized deer, skunk, fox, and mouse, respectively; it-s also the 13th birthday of their feline friend Rosie, who died in a car accident over the summer. While visiting the river where the girls used to play, the group discovers a rock painted with Rosie-s signature symbol, which she left around town as a way to -add mystery to the world.- Later, while minding her family-s laundromat, Millie finds a notebook decorated with the same symbol. Certain that there-s a puzzle to solve, Millie fixates on the notebook, even as her friendships rupture around her. It isn-t until Claire suddenly disappears that the group comes together again, eager to find their friend and work through their collective grief. Background antics-such as an elderly turtle-s pursuit of taking down a too bright lamppost-occasionally detract from touching messages surrounding loss and healing. Still, the creators deftly develop an emotive animalian cast whose palpably felt emotions ferry this quiet tale. Ages 8-12. Agent: Uwe Stender, Triada US. (July)

School Library Journal (Wed Nov 01 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Gr 5–8— Grief and the power of female friendship intertwine in this coming-of-age middle grade graphic novel that follows Millie and her friend group after the death of their smart, creative friend in a car accident. Since Rosie died, everything has felt wrong, but when Millie finds a journal full of drawings at her family's laundromat, something clicks. This must be related to Rosie, right? This graphic novel invites readers to come not only on the journey to discover the connection but to also live inside the world of these girls as they grow, change, and grieve together. It features anthropomorphic animals as characters, but rather than using this as a way to avoid humanity, it ties together the overall setting of the story and the author's experiences that inspired the story. With moments of relatable school and friendship drama and a soothing fall color palette, this graphic novel is for fans of Lucy Knisley, Terri Libenson, and Cece Bell. VERDICT Smart, moving, and perfectly geared towards its middle grade audience.— Aryssa Damron