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From School Library Journal

September 20, 2024

Gr 1-3-Waboose (First Nation Anishinaabe) and Harvey (Tsilhqot'in and Syilx) create a story drawing on the Indigenous life they witness among their families and friends. A hawk, considered by Serenity and her brother Big Ed to be a keeper of the river and Gekek, or protector, watches over the siblings as they walk along in the bush, almost a wooded path in nature. They are planning to fish, Big Ed with a store-bought fishing rod and Serenity with a plain wooden one, fresh enough for her to enjoy the scent of tree sap it emits. In appreciation of nature, Serenity is so busy looking around, that Big Ed is soon far ahead of her. A hawk circles above and gets her attention. Serenity hurries to the river, more of a stream, where Big Ed's foot is trapped by a rock. The hawk seems to help Serenity to realize that she has a tool for saving her brother-her rod-and as they later flop down on the bank, exhausted by the rescue, she has no time to mourn the loss of a fishing day. Vibrant colors, like the very brightest hues of an autumnal forest, provide readers with a sense of the surroundings in which these children are invested. The story isn't suspenseful, but Serenity's efforts, to which she credits the hawk, allow children a glimpse of the invisible thread that binds Anishinaabe to their surroundings. And the sibling love, expressed at the end in barely a glance and a bit of a joke, is relatable for anyone with brothers and sisters. VERDICT A tender tale with unexpected depths, yielding more than the simple story suggests. An enveloping and sturdy addition to the shelves, filed under siblings, family stories, or Indigenous culture.-Kimberly Olson Fakih

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

From Horn Book

July 1, 2024
As Serenity, an Anishinaabe girl, follows her brother Big Ed to the river to fish, she connects with the medicine and spirits of nature, including the hawks who are their protectors. When Big Ed gets into a pinch while fishing, Serenity rescues him with a red-tailed hawk's help. Waboose's (Nishnawbe Ojibway) ecologically conscious text skillfully balances moments of suspense and lightheartedness and reflects the dynamics of a healthy sibling relationship. Harvey's (Tsilhqot'in/Syilx) full-color digital illustrations capture the moods and personalities of the characters.

(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)