Review by Booklist Review
After making it to the U.S. from Cuba through a whirlwind of trauma, now-teens Ana and Leandro (and Leandro's service dog, Cielo) find each other and bond over their shared interest in environmental rewilding in Northern California. But their troubles are just beginning, as Leandro struggles with panic attacks, and Ana looks over her shoulder for her father, now a domestic terrorist. Weaving in acutely modern references to things like COVID-19 and the January 6 insurrection, Engle (The Lightning Dreamer, 2013) offers a story of hope amid darkness. A novel in verse, the book also touches on themes of homelessness and family, while wrapping the overall narrative in romance with a touch of magic. Engle's signature straight-to-the-heart poetry tours around Ana's, Leandro's, and Cielo's perspectives with ease, bringing an increased sense of empathy for each character. An echo to Engle's previous Wings in the Wild (2023), this will appeal to readers who enjoy environmental stories such as Adrienne Kisner's The Confusion of Laurel Graham (2019).
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Seventeen-year-old Ana and her mother live in their car in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, a rewilded military outpost. Most of her botanist mother's government salary is being allocated to locating Ana's disappeared father. While walking through the park one night, Ana encounters a puma, as well as a Cuban boy named Leandro, whose service dog, Cielo, helps him manage panic attacks, which have become more frequent since his family's dangerous journey to the states via boat. Though Ana leaves before they can exchange numbers, Leandro's transfer to a new high school, and a serendipitous job offer for Ana's mother, ensure that their paths cross again. Distinctive verse by Engle (Wings in the Wild) portrays Ana and Leandro's alternating perspectives to fully immerse readers in this sweetly rendered romance, adding depth to the teens' parallel journeys. Additionally, sections titled "Cielo the singing dog" contribute levity to serious moments. It's a heartwarming and inspiring eco-centric read that addresses timely issues such as conservation of wildlife and emphasizes the importance of people's connecting to nature--and each other. Ages 12--up. Agent: Michelle Humphrey, Martha Kaplan Agency. (Apr.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 7 Up--Leandro escaped Cuba on a boat with his family, but he's convinced his en-route watery tumble caused his father's drowning. Bellido embodies him as deep, anguished, hesitant, with just a hint of an accent. The voyage's stowaway puppy was trained as Leandro's therapy dog: "I hum a song/ into his hand/ until he understands," Cielo the singing dog explains about Leandro's panic attacks, soothingly voiced by Aleman. Ana, vulnerably ciphered by Reynoso--from dreamy to determined--is also fatherless, not because he's dead but because she and her mother must stay hidden from the FBI-most-wanted domestic terrorist he's become. The teens' initial meeting in a moonlit park is magical, an instant connection that serendipitously continues when they rediscover each other at the same high school. Together, they help create a re-wilding group to assist local efforts in sustainably saving threatened wildlife. VERDICT A shining triumvirate enhances Engle's tender, polyphonic journey.
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Traumatized teens find each other and bond over a shared passion for conservation. Ana, a Cuban American 17-year-old, is living in a car with her mother. Her mom's job doesn't pay enough to cover the cost of living in California's Bay Area, especially now that they're hiding from her dangerous father, who's wanted by the FBI for domestic terrorism. A chance meeting with Leandro, a recent refugee from Cuba who's also 17, leads to instant attraction, and a romance grows. Leandro witnessed his father drown during their dangerous journey to Miami from Cuba, and he can't shake the guilt and psychological scars. Service dog Cielo is his constant sidekick, helping with Leandro's panic attacks. Cielo proves to be a wise companion, sharing observations on emotions, nature, and the human condition in chapters written from her perspective, which are interspersed with chapters voiced by each teen. Ana and Leandro care deeply for the natural world around them, and they start a rewilding club at school to help support the work of environmental scientists and wildlife rescuers. The pair become involved with a pregnant puma who needs immediate support, and they work to make changes for the puma population. Verse in various forms, including beautiful concrete poems, effectively conveys this story's themes of sustainability, resilience, and activism. A transformative journey celebrating the power of overcoming personal struggles to make a lasting impact. (author's note) (Verse fiction. 12-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
