I found this book enjoyable but Creator made way too long (audiobook is over 15 hours)! It seemed to drag on forever leaving me tired and bored and wanting it to be over. Don't get me wrong, it is a good coming of age story with a vast cast of characters filled with Native American folklore and traditions. It even has good moral value but somehow lacked substance. It appears that I am the outlier here as many seemed to love it, perhaps it just wasn't for me. My thanks to Dreamscape Media for providing the audiobook for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Two young Lakota brothers, just eleven and six years old, flee across the Dakota plains under the cover of night, escaping a government agent determined to take them to an Indian boarding school. What begins as a chase becomes a moving, character-rich journey as the boys travel toward the pipestone quarries of Minnesota, seeking to replace their great-grandfather’s sacred pipe that was broken in an act of cruelty.

I listened to this story on audio after hearing great things, and it truly is an epic. Sweeping and poignant, it's filled with vivid landscapes, complex characters, and a powerful message about loss, survival, and cultural resilience. Some parts were heartbreaking, especially as it reminded me once again of how much was taken from Native peoples in the name of assimilation and control.

The boys' bravery stood out, especially the youngest, Ruben, whose unique way of seeing the world was so gently and respectfully portrayed. It was clear to me he is somewhere on the spectrum, and I appreciated how his personality was treated with dignity and love by both the characters around him and the author himself.

The cast of characters the boys meet adds real richness to the journey, each one leaving their mark on the story in a meaningful way. That said, I think I would have enjoyed this more as a physical read rather than an audiobook. The full-cast narration had its strengths, but over such a long story, it became a bit tiring. After the boys were returned home, the momentum dipped, and I felt that shift more keenly in audio form. Some of the performances also lacked the emotional depth that the story itself was full of, which created a bit of a mismatch.

Still, I’m grateful to have experienced this one, and I’d recommend it, especially in print. Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the gifted audiobook in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.