About This Book
Reach for this book when your teenager is navigating a period of profound isolation, whether due to a family tragedy or a difficult transition where they feel like the odd one out. Ted O'Connor's journey begins with the sudden loss of his parents, landing him in an unpredictable foster home and a tough new school. While the premise is heavy, the story is infused with Ron Koertge's signature wit and a touch of magical realism, as Ted discovers he can communicate with animals better than people. It is a smart, incisive look at how we build family from the ground up when our first one disappears. Parents will appreciate the book's honesty about grief and its hopeful message about finding belonging in the most unlikely packs. It is most appropriate for high schoolers due to its gritty setting and mature themes of loss and survival.
