No Place Like Home

Starred review from July 3, 2023
Twelve-year-old Ojibwe Opin has been living in his family’s Ford Pinto for some time with his mother and impulsive older brother, Emjay, who often disappears during rest stops along their route across California to Los Angeles. Gathering left-behind grub from fast food restaurants, slipping into empty hotel rooms to shower, and crossing their fingers for space at a local shelter are just a few of the things they must do to survive if they hope to make it to their destination before social services puts the brothers in foster care. Despite the promise of stability in L.A., the feeling of home is always just out of reach, until Opin adopts a stray dog that he believes completes their family. But when Emjay takes his frustrations out on the pup and storms off, and Opin reckons with the fact that most shelters don’t allow pets, Opin worries that his family has reached a breaking point. Writing from his own experience, per an author’s note, Ojibwe author Bird (The Second Chance of Benjamin Waterfalls) crafts this deeply felt ode to familial love with authoritative prose. Opin’s palpable fears, joys, and unrelenting hope buoy this tale of resilience. A glossary and playlist conclude. Ages 10–14. Agent: Rosemary Stimola, Stimola Literary Studio.