A story of persistence and family love emphasizing respect for animals, elders, and cultural customsTwelve-year-old Wren, who's Cherokee and white, has exceptional tracking skills. Her family seems to have a knack for detective work; her dad's the town's police chief, after all. Even though her mom vanished over five years ago, Wren remains determined to find her. But her mom is just one of the many Indigenous women in Oklahoma who have gone missing, and Wren feels pain and frustration that no one is doing more about this tragedy. Wren follows her maternal grandmother Elisi's advice to use her "finder feelings" to reunite missing pets with their owners. During a school project, she and class partner Brantley uncover an animal mystery and work together to find the criminal. Relying on her Wolf Clan knowledge, Wren recognizes her responsibility to protect animals, herself, and others. Debut author Reno (Cherokee) offers readers a powerful story that explores heart-wrenching themes, including Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls, animal torture, child abuse, and bullying. Informative backmatter expands on the epidemic of MMIWG and the meaning of the red handprint symbol, as well as Cherokee history in the book's setting of Fort Gibson. Elisi is a source of guidance, humor, and comfort to Wren. After a slower start, the mystery unfolds, and once Wren is in pursuit of the culprit (with help from Brantley), the story takes off and will grip readers.A dramatic and captivating call for attention. (author's note)(Fiction. 10-14)

Gr 5 Up— Wren is a ghost of who she used to be. Five years ago her mother disappeared without a trace. Every day Wren searches for clues through her police chief dad, online searches, and the MMIWG (Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls) movement database. Her elisi (Cherokee for grandmother) is a source of comfort, but there is still something missing. When animals start being hurt and killed, Wren decides to put her research skills to work and find out who is behind the crimes. With her new friend Brantley, she follows the leads until they realize that the person committing these acts may be closer to home than either of them thought. With the backdrop of the Cherokee tribal land in Oklahoma, this book brings into focus the epidemic of missing Indigenous women across the United States in an age-appropriate way. So many of these families, just like Wren's, are given no answers to what happened to their loved ones. Although written for middle schoolers, Reno's debut does not shy away from the truth. With a mystery to solve, students will want to follow Wren on her quest for justice. VERDICT Cherokee writer Reno crafts a powerful debut centering an important issue affecting Indigenous women and families; a strong purchase for all middle schools.— Heather Lassley