This book is about cousins who are also best friends but are eventually separated when Kara's family moves and the girls experience all too relatable feelings of fear and concern about their relationship changing with the added distance. I read this book to my little girl and her cousin. Though we aren't able to directly relate to the personal experiences of the characters (the reason for the move, the Indian Relocation Act), I found the book to be such a great way of opening both the little girls eyes and mine at some history that is not discussed often enough. I loved this book and so did the girls. It gave them encouragement to ask questions about Native American culture as well!

Even though this is a picture book about cousins it divides into the deeper issue of 1950s Indian Relocation Act and how it still effects Native families today. Even though it's geared towards kids adults can learn from this book as well.

I appreciate stories of other cultures, especially from the First Nations of North America, or Turtle Island. Two cousins who are very close face uncertainty and mixed emotions as one of them is moving away from their reservation. When they reunite a year later, they are at first shy with each other.

The back matter is interesting and tells of historical injustices, as well as ongoing racism and government oppression. There is none of that in the story though. Just a sweet story of two cousins who miss each other.

Thanks to Laurel Goodluck, Charlesbridge and NetGalley for an eARC of this book.

This was such a sweet picture book! Kara and Amanda are Hidatsa cousins as well as best friends. When Kara moves to the Rez from the city, both girls wonder whether their relationship will stay strong.

I loved all the subtle ways Goodluck incorporated Hidatsa culture. She includes references to fry bread, sage, tipi rings, and more, along with an author's note in the back. The art is beautiful and engaging.

Ultimately, this is one of the best picture books I've ever read! I look forward to using it in story times, promoting it on our shelves, and featuring it in our Native Lives, Native Stories booklist next November.

Through Amanda and Kara, we learn about family of the Native Indian in the United States. Some live in the Reservation, the Rez, and some outside. Although it still amazes me on how people lives in the reservations nowadays, but the beauty of life can also be found there. The close-knit community and the family-like relationships that bond the Indian from all tribes are amazing.

A great addition to any child's library.

This beautifully illustrated picture book (ages 4-7) depicts a time of transition in which one cousin's family is moving far away from the other. While this broader storyline is accessible to a wide audience, the context and illustrations brought up familiar themes common throughout Indian Country. This versatility can offer a sense of visibility and inclusion for our young Indigenous readers, while the Author's Note at the end provides context for those not familiar with contemporary American Indian peoples and cultures. It's inclusion highlights the authors generosity, compassion, and foresight in meeting all readers where they are.

I am very appreciative of the publisher (Charlesbridge) and NetGalley for the ARC and opportunity to offer honest my review.

5 STARS for this sweet and mesmerizing tale! My four grandchildren are very close cousins. So it is no wonder that these two Native American cousins are best friends. Thank goodness - for my kids that I read this to - that the sweet girls were once again united. We need more books about diverse cultures.

This was a great story. When I opened the pages, I was not expecting to hear a US indigenous story. This is about to cousins who live in the city, and one moves back to the “rez”. Will they still be friends? will they still like each other? The story is approachable to all with feelings of being “away” from family. What is interesting is the information in the back where the author talks about the Indian Relocation Act of 1956 which was pitched as a jobs act but was a way of assimilating native culture. This was a fantastic book both in story and education and I would be proud to put it on my library selves.

This was such sweet story of two Native American cousins and the bond they share through life changes. I loved the culture of the story it brought on a lot of questions from my daughter which is always great! Such a good learning experience during story time. The illustrations were super simple and sweet. The story brought on many memories of what summers with some of my cousins were like. I really enjoyed this story and my kids did too!

This was a cute book. The illustrations were bright and colorful. The text highlights a lovely relationship between two cousins, separated by a move. I love how Amanda and Kara stayed in touch throughout the year and I loved their reaction to seeing each other again at the reunion.

The author's notes provided insight into the treatment of Natives in North America and her own relationship with her extended family.

This book shares the story of cousins who have grown up together but are facing a geographical separation. They are please to find that their connection remains as strong and joyful as ever when they reunite at a summer powwow. Back matter gives information on the Indian Relocation act and how it created reservations and continues to cause frequent relocations and separations in family. The strength and joyfulness of cultural traditions and family connection shines through.

What a beautiful book! It tells a story of two Native American cousins and what happens to their bond when Kara and her family move to the Rez. I would get this book for my children as they are in a somewhat similar situation where we live abroad, and they miss their cousins as they cannot see them regularly. I can see many children in similar circumstances enjoying this book. The illustration was wonderful, and I loved when Amanda and Kara exchanged dolls at the end, adorable.

However, I really think this is also interesting and educational for adults. I loved all the references to Native American culture (Hidatsa, powwow dancing etc.) as I was not familiar with them. The information about the federal Indian Relocation Act of 1956 at the end of the book was very interesting (as well as shocking since it didn’t happen that long ago). This book would be helpful when trying to introduce such a difficult topic to children. I loved that as an adult I could get so much out of a children’s book.

Thank you NetGalley and Charlesbridge for an advance readers copy, 5 stars!

This is a heartwarming story that reflects the author's own childhood whilst creating unique characters and story, integrating native american culture throughout. I've never seen a picture book cover a long period of time like this one does, but I think this was done very well. It was nice to see such a large happy family reflected here who dedicate time to these large reunions, bringing to life the love they share. I liked Kara and Amanda's initial reaction to seeing each other again at this reunion, it felt organic and realistic rather than overly idealised- therefore relatable to young readers. The art style here was like nothing I've seen before- I personally wasn't a fan but I can see the appeal. Overall, I didn't love this book as much as I've enjoyed other picture books in the past, but I still think its worth checking out!
Thank you to NetGalley and Charlesbridge Publishing for providing me with an advanced ebook copy of this title in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC!

What a sweet book! I think it will appeal to many people. Lots of children experience moving away from friends and family, and it's a hard change to make. I love that this book incorporated modern technology (like video calling) to show that even when apart, people are closer than ever. I also learned a little about Hidatsa culture through this story.

This is a heartwarming story starring two sweet Native American cousins, Kara and Amanda. They are not only cousins, they are best of friends.

Unfortunately Kara must leave to move back to the Rez. Both girls are heartbroken regarding their separation and wonder if their special friendship will remain the same or change forever.

They experience separation anxiety and hate that they cannot play and spend quality time together. A family reunion is planned on the Rez and the girls are shy and apprehensive thinking perhaps when they meet up again things won't be the same. Will they be correct or will they remain forever loving cousins and forever best friends?

This story highlights the ongoing impact of the 1950s Indian Relocation Act on Native families, even today. The illustrations are beautifully done, colourful, vibrant and expressive. This is a powerful inspiring story of friendship, family ties and the grandness of LOVE! I highly recommend this book.

I loved this Native American story about two young cousins that had to move away from each other. This made me think of the distance I had between my own cousins as a child but also made me imagine the separation through my child's eyes.

I love the message that even though cousins may be separated geographically for a time period, when they get together, it is as though nothing has changed.

I would love to add this book to my son's library and think this would make a wonderful birthday present for a child.

Thanks so much to Charlesbridge for the chance to read and review this children's book prior to release. This book will be available for purchase in September.

This is the story of Kara and Amanda who are best friends and cousins. When Kara’s family moves from the city back to the Rez, the two worry about whether their friendship will sustain the distance. At their family reunion on the Rez the following summer, both girls are nervous to see each other again. But they quickly fall back in to the close friendship they always had.

My 4-year-old twin girls really enjoyed this book. One of my daughter’s immediately loved Amanda since her favorite color is purple, and the other attached to Kara since her favorite color is pink. The colors are themes carried through out the book.

This is a beautiful story about family, friends, and bonds that can’t be broken by distance. I highly recommend that people take the time to read and discuss the Author’s Notes at the end. The author discusses her family’s experiences and the treatment of Native people in the United States. The notes are informative and give valuable context for the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Charlesbridge for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

My 7 year old liked this story. She didn't like that the girls got separated but liked it when they got reunited again. My 9 year old wasn't overly keen on this book as she found it boring so I felt it was too young for her. Some of the words are a bit difficult to pronounce but that is the traditional words. The Story and illustrations were sweet

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.

I really liked this book and all the characters. Great flow of story. It was a great way to show kids that even when separated you can have a great relationship and that family is family no matter how far apart you may live from each other.

The pictures that went with the book were well done.

Overall, I would read more by this author.

This book tells the story of two cousins who are similar in age and live far away from each other but visit each summer. This reminds me a lot of my cousins from Hamilton who come visit at the cabin each summer. Usually the first few days is about reintroducing ourselves and catching up on what happened in the last year or two of everyone's lives, then after a few days we are one tight unit again, before feeling sad that they have to leave. What is much more interesting about this story though is the connection to the forced relocation of Indigenous people in the United States, which accounts for why these cousins live so far apart. From the small details like sweet grass braids on the dash board to the mention of fry bread, Indigenous cultural symbols are woven throughout this story. The author describes herself as an intertribal Native American and gives lots of background information for anyone unsure of this part of history. I love to see more books written by Indigenous authors about what took place in the United States. While Canada still has a looooonng way to go before we can truly learn from the crimes of our history, I do think that Canadians are more interested in learning about the past and sharing stories about poor treatment of Indigenous people than in the States so I am glad to see more children's books about these parts of history pertaining specifically to the situations that occurred on the south side of the border. I highly recommend this fantastic book that just begins to touch on the crimes of the past that separated families and changed Indigenous people's lives forever. Even though I am from Canada I could still see myself reading this book with my class. I would absolutely recommend it to families and teachers of children in the age 5-10 range in the United States, but also see the benefit of this book for Canadian teachers too. Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read and review this great book!