Rating: Needs Parent Supervision

Reading Level: Late Elementary

A lonely boy who fears his dad is disappointed in him befriends orphan fugitives who move next door in the dead of night. This story has a sweet mix of tenderness, honesty, longing, and finding home in your own skin (with an unexpected friend at your side). 

I cried. Twice.

Possible Concerns:

  • Cursing. One “damnit”, one “Lord”, and several “chese and rice” or “bull spit”-type expressions that are intentionally close to something more offensive.
  • Bullying, name calling, and blackmail. Much of the story is related to overcoming or flourishing despite it.
  • Magic. The children believe the magic protects them; one doubts. The magic “speaks” to the leader (the shepherd) with the intent to protect & provide for them. This is very much how I experience the Holy Spirit, and there may be opportunities to connect to Him.
  • Lying. Early in the story, the main character lies to his mother. He does it to protect a friend, but I don’t like how prevalent you find these “little white” lies in kids’ literature these days.
  • Death/gore. There is a slaughterhouse, and there are cows, and there are cow guts. There is a repeated swish-moo-thud. There is blood splattering. There are not too many details, but there is enough to turn some kiddos into budding vegetarians.
  • Stalking. There is a bounty hunter who is pretty creepy. He doesn’t hurt the children, but he is eerily composed.
  • Romance. There is a very short kiss.
  • Infertility. There is reference to repeated pregnancy loss.

I think it is intended for a late-elementary school audience, but some of the issues above might make it middle school level in my book, and it may need some parent supervision even so.

The character growth, friendship, and love make it worth the read.