I only made it about 10% into this book, and while I usually try to push through tough stories, this one was too emotionally overwhelming for me to continue.

To start, the title felt misleading—it struck me as almost whimsical or quirky, which contrasted jarringly with the serious tone of the book’s description. The story itself is short, which I typically appreciate, but diving headfirst into such heavy subject matter without much build-up made the experience even more jarring.

The premise is heart-wrenching: a 9-year-old girl abandoned by her unstable mother, left to fend for herself in a trailer park. Distrusting the foster care system, she opts to survive alone in the woods. Her later encounters with teens both pointing her to and warning her away from a place called Twelfth Street hint at a darker underbelly of exploitation and trafficking. By then, I had to stop—it was simply too painful to keep reading.

I don’t doubt that this story holds value or maybe even redemption later on, but with such sensitive themes, I wish there were more reviews available to help readers brace themselves or decide whether the emotional toll is worth enduring. For now, this one wasn’t a match for me.

Special thanks to Carpenter's Son Publishing and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.