“Cole’s voice is convincingly filled with a combination of angst and nonchalance.”

– Kirkus

"Kyi's novel presents a heart-wrenching, realistic depiction of a son grieving the loss of his mother. Grades 9-12."

– Booklist

“Kyi demonstrates a certain amount of bravery in her treatment of the characters and their stories: Cole isn’t always as likeable as he thinks he is – in fact, he’s a bit of a jerk – and the other characters are vividly, humanly flawed. The author allows her characters room to make bad decisions and doesn’t flinch from dramatizing the consequences. The novel’s relatability twists inside the reader.”

– Quill & Quire

"The book is unusually clear-eyed in its depiction of both the negatives and the positives of a close-knit small town. There's an underlying nuance to the dynamics and a pleasing lack of villainy to the characters, so events are emotional rather than melodramatic."

– Bulletin for Center of Children's Books