I don't know how I feel about this book. In the beginning, I was spell-bound with Bird's introduction and description of Collin and the challenges he faced as someone who struggled in life because he counted the letters in everyone's sentences as they spoke to him. Imagine what a field day bullies would have with him. His awkward relationship with his disapproving father felt real.

After another bullying incident at school, Collin is sent to live with his mother, an Ojibwe woman he's never met. Here the story turns, and it takes on a mystical, almost fantastical tone. There were elements that didn't feel real to me. His mother and grandmother sound too good to be true. While I appreciated their welcoming words and the way they viewed life, something about them didn't seem realistic.

Orenda, the friend next door, who is facing challenges of her own, offers a beautiful look at life, but I had questions. Why wasn't she in school? Why was her father - so protective - willing to let Collin hang out (and ultimately, make out) with his daughter. Really? Not like any dad I know!

And I guess that's why I'm left a little unhappy. The switch from realistic fiction to fantasy/mysticism felt too abrupt for me to make the transition smoothly.

This book is great at immersing you in Native American culture. It is also an enduring story of friendship (author leads you to believe love between the 13 year olds) Wile a very good story I was angry and bewildered why they wouldn't tell Collin the truth about Orenda disease. And that they lied about the grandmother being dead even though he was always being touched and having conversations with her. Confusion with the fact that Orenda did not seek medical help because she was going to become a butterfly like her mother. What kind of stuff is that to feed to confused middle grade schoolers? I find it sad to lead readers to believe this. I don't believe a 13 year old would develop such a deep relationship with this girl. This life is a mystery to Collin as his first thirteen years of life he has lived with an uncaring father in California and now is to live with his mother on an Indian reservation in Minnesota. Collin has always been a "freak" because he has to count letters the people say, say the number and then continue the conversation. In the end he goes through some mysticism and no longer has this problem. Orenda leaves a letter "preaching" what we should do for people (and animals) in our lives.

Collin has a condition where he counts every word that is spoken. As a result, he's constantly bullied at school. When he gets expelled for punching someone that is messing with him by reciting tongue twisters, he gets expelled from school. His single dad decides to send him to live with his mother on an Indian reservation. Through relationships with his long lost mother, a new father, the girl next door and the entire Indian reservation, Collin figures out that being different is ok. Beautiful book in so many ways. absolutely loved it!

This is a delightful and emotional debut from James Bird. In this book, Collin, who has OCD, moves to a reservation to live with his mother whom he has never met before. While there, he learns more about the family he hasn't known and befriends the girl next door, Orenda. This book had it all. The characters were complex. The plot was original, and the ending gives you all the feels. I can't wait to read more from this author in the future.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.