“The book’s message is most simply put by Pax when he tells his kit that “after loving, you are afraid,” but it is still worth it. It’s a hard heart that will keep the tears away for this one, so have plenty of tissues nearby.” - Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
“The stakes feel higher this time, the pain deeper, making for a worthy sequel and a heartbreaking and beautifully life-affirming exploration of the concepts of home, family, and the love that makes it all worthwhile.” - Booklist
“Satisfying yet bittersweet conclusion. Klassen’s interspersed scene-setting black-and-white art adds textured layers of complexity. This sensitively imagined story effectively explores issues of human-animal connection, emotional vulnerability, the aftermath of conflict, and found family.” - The Horn Book (starred review)
“Pennypacker brilliantly walks this tightrope of evoking the power and pain of love. The end result is a story about healing and forgiveness: healing from war, from poisons in the environment, from pain and loss, from the ways people disappoint those they love.” - New York Journal of Books
“This is a deftly nuanced look at the fragility and strength of the human heart. An impressive sequel." - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)