"Horvath infuses her novel with such heart, zest, and humor in the small moments that she's created a book her devoted fan base will cherish. Notably, the denizens of Vancouver Island have a delicious lack of separation between adult and child--all are wholeheartedly curious, beautifully flawed, and deeply amusing." -- Booklist, starred review "Events glide from the domestic to offbeat to the supernatural without any friction, creating a world where anything is possible . [A] story of community and love and families in all their messy glory." -- The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, starred review "Horvath's bright prose and unerring sense of timing keep us turning pages to arrive at the book's final, transcendently profound, scene." -- Horn Book " The quirky characters and Franny's dry-humored narration stand out as Horvath invokes classic literary elements of orphans, secret gardens, and found families." -- Publishers Weekly "Thoughtful, hilarious, and moving; repeated readings reveal even more to appreciate in this superbly crafted tale. An essential purchase for all middle grade collections.

" -- School Library Journal.