Gabe usually feels like an outcast at school, so when an old friend suggests they hang out, Gabe's in good spirits. But his friend brings class show-off Taylor, who starts to grate on Gabe's nerves. Gabe makes some bad decisions, including shoplifting fireworks and shooting them haphazardly outside, resulting in a forest fire. The fire quickly gets out of control and Gabe is caught and taken to the police station. He must face a community board and commit to restitution and community service. As Gabe's story unfolds, readers learn more about a coyote named Rill who was severely burned during the fire and is hiding in a cave, gathering her strength to find her family. Meanwhile, Gabe and his family are finding it difficult to get along as he distances himself from those who love him. Gabe encounters the coyote during his community service and desperately wants to help, bringing her food and water. As he cares for Rill, Gabe starts to understand how much the land means to people, and attempts to restore the forest and his fractured family. Overall, this book has excellent messaging about navigating friendship challenges, dealing with hard consequences, and the importance of surrounding yourself with supportive people. Gabe is cued as white. VERDICT A solid addition to middle grade collections; best suited for animal lovers and students interested in realistic fiction.--Erin Olsen

An angry seventh grader heals. Gabe Meyer is miserable. His parents, struggling with financial problems, ignore him; his older sister treats him like a pest; and his two best friends have begun to spend time with another, cooler guy. Trying to impress his friends, Gabe steals some fireworks and brings them to the park where the boys are hanging out. When they inadvertently set fire to the dry grass, the others run off while Gabe futilely tries to put out the fire--and is discovered and arrested. At a community justice meeting for people impacted by the fire, where Gabe is assigned community service and restitution, he begins to understand how his thoughtless actions have affected others, A parallel storyline, told in alternate chapters, is narrated by Rill, a young coyote who, like Gabe, is struggling with her place in the world. She is burned by the fire, after which she hides out in a small cave, where Gabe discovers and tries to help her. This riveting, many-layered story shines on all levels. Gabe's first-person narration brilliantly (and with humor) captures the tone of an angry, confused tween without being over-the-top, and his metamorphosis from powerless to empowered is both realistic and compelling. The coyote's story adds depth and poignancy. Gabe is Jewish and, along with other major characters, defaults to White. As a story about community, healing, and family--both human and animal--this is one of the best. (Fiction. 8-13) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

This tale of two misunderstood "kids" centers on Gabe, a 12-year-old boy whose family and friends are preoccupied by everything but him, and Rill, a young coyote tasked with watching her pack's pups. When Gabe tries to impress his friends by stealing fireworks, he accidentally sparks a fire that destroys a park and its surrounding area. Caught in the flames, Rill nurses her wounds in one of the park's caves. They meet while Gabe is doing his restorative justice work, cleaning up the park damage. Readers will see Gabe transform as he works off his time, building skills and character. Ultimately, he draws the community together to advocate for Rill's release back into the wild. Will they succeed in their efforts? Lorentz illustrates how change can come from pain and that there is a path forward, even from the worst situations. The characters and friendships are realistic, as are the emotions Gabe feels. An accessible example of positive approaches to restoration and an excellent tale of relationships and community.