"In this moving autobiographical novel, author Trebincevic recalls his family's harrowing emigration from Yugoslavia's Bosnia province to the United States when he was 11 years old.Trebincevic provides backstory to help readers understand the political forces that tore his home country apart, balancing that information with his own youthful bewilderment and anger, with which readers will readily empathize.The author's note provides fascinating details about the book's evolution and Kenan's collaboration with his coauthor. An essential purchase for all middle grade collections, as well as school curricula on contemporary world history and immigration." -- School Library Journal , STARRED review "Sharing a time and experience that has little exposure for most younger readers, Kenan's emotions and actions bring to life the common threads of growing up and discovering new favorite things.Highly recommended for its emotional and historical perspectives, this is an insightful starting point for understanding one family's refugee experience, as well as the complexities of the Bosnian War." -- Booklist , STARRED review "This title shows how, despite cultural and geographic differences, people everywhere are sometimes drawn to malice but more often to generosity and good. Shows how, for refugees, the struggle for survival doesn't end when you leave home.

" --Kirkus "The immediacy of Kenan's narration will allow other transplanted children to relate and kids with more fortunate lives to contemplate the thin line between safety and tragedy. An author's note explains a little more about his process and work with his co-author." --The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books "Scenes come alive through the first-person voice and abundant dialogue.a long, intricately detailed narrative that effectively weaves in enough historical background to make events understandable for young readers." --The Horn Book.