Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

When their parents’ marriage crumbles in a storm of angry voices, stepsisters Quinn and Kenzie are whisked away by their grandmother to the restorative world of the Outer Banks. Quinn, with her red curls and freckled skin, and light-skinned, brown-haired Kenzie, who has a port-wine birthmark on her forehead, have been sisters for as long as they can remember. But now their blended family is fracturing. Smith’s expressive artwork captures the gut-wrenching emotional turbulence with visceral precision: Red speech bubbles with jagged edges and slanted text convey parental arguments, while the tween girls huddle under blankets, finding safety in each other. When Gramma, a veterinarian at the Wild Horse Foundation, steps in, the story shifts into a more hopeful register. Gramma guides the sisters toward healing through nature, particularly by observing the horses and spending time on the beach cleaning up garbage. The sisters’ bond strengthens during vividly realized moments like when they crack open geodes to discover the hidden beauty within. Quinn’s budding romance with pale, purple-haired Willow adds another layer of self-discovery to this emotionally rich narrative. Smith’s art conveys complex feelings remarkably well—fear, resilience, hope, and the harrowing ache of watching your family come apart—all while the girls navigate what it means to be family when the impact of having a stepsister relationship is uncertain. The beauty of the windswept island setting and the elegance of the horses also shine. An expressive, heartfelt exploration of the bonds that hold us together.(Graphic fiction. 9-12) Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.