Description
Book SynopsisTrade Review**STARRED REVIEW** "Spot art depicts a charmingly appealing Shovel and a racially diverse human cast. . .A witty, heartfelt, and sophisticated story about the consequences of grief." * Kirkus Reviews *
**STARRED REVIEW** "With Shovel as narrator, familiar middle grade topics (death of a parent, friends-turned-enemies, bullying), become completely unique and fresh. Tender, laced with sly humor, and full of complex emotion, this novel explores the line between unpredictable reality and controlled imagination." * School Library Journal *
This is a delicate, accessible story about a grief so sharp that it bleeds joy from reality. . .Shovel’s second-person narration has a subtle complexity depending on readerly interpretation of him as either a coping mechanism or a true element of fantasy, but in the end he’s an effective model for youngsters with friends in pain. * The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books *
Bacon tells a familiar story of deep loss and friendship that combines gentle humor and ardent wistfulness, making the themes of trauma suppression and the reluctance to move on feel both personal and universal. * Publishers Weekly *
This touching book will help children understand the many changes that come with growing up. Wu's illustrations help bring Shovel and his imaginary world to life. * Booklist *
