Great Lakes Great Books Award Winner Beehive Children's Fiction Award Nominee New York Charlotte Award Nominee Missouri State Awards Mark Twain Readers Award Nominee Evergreen Teen Book Award Nominee "A worthy match for My Side of the Mountain and Hatchet. " -- Horn Book , starred review "Rudd weaves an uplifting tale of connection and found family." -- Publishers Weekly , starred review " The Outsiders meets Hatchet in this story that follows Raymond's ordeal to both survive in the winter woods of North Carolina and attend middle school without anyone finding out how he lives. Completely devoid of cheap drama, this tightly written, understated narrative tells its story through finely drawn characters, intensely realistic atmosphere and setting, and a protagonist who will capture readers' hearts with both his courage and his creative survival skills." -- Kirkus , starred review "This refreshingly genuine book on resilience and survival will enthrall readers from chapter one. Recommended for collections where survival books and heartfelt fiction are popular." -- School Library Journal - School Library Journal view "This refreshingly genuine book on resilience and survival will enthrall readers from chapter one. Recommended for collections where survival books and heartfelt fiction are popular.

" -- School Library Journal - School Library Journal.