This book had me emotional! Overall it’s a really beautiful and hopeful message about divesting from capitalism and colonialism to build a better future in community. One of the main themes is how capitalist greed is killing the planet and only LAND BACK will save us; I think it’s so cool to make these concepts accessible for middle grade readers (i.e., our future). 

And honestly, this book has so many more beautiful pieces: gender identity exploration and coming out, learning to honor grief, found family (because "blood-family" is a colonizer mindset), staying connected to your roots (and in Millie’s case, Indigenous ancestral knowledge), and dismantling classism and rural stigma. And even when the subject matter is heavy, there’s levity! I laughed out loud a couple times and I think kids will really get a kick out of a few silly bits. 

The characters’ inner experiences felt true to their ages and backgrounds, with the Appalachian dialect/accents adding an extra layer of authenticity. I really enjoyed Ben and Alex’s story, and how invested the younger ones were in their queer love. 

This would make an excellent gift for any middle-grade kids in your life, especially Native kids, with major life lessons wrapped in an edgy dystopian adventure.