"Another solid outing from veteran Hahn." --Kirkus "Hahn gives Brendan a narrative voice that is urgent, contemplative, and believable in this nuanced story about transformation, trust, identity, friendship, and loss." --Publishers Weekly "This is quintessential middle-grade realistic fiction, with an unvarnished depiction of the miseries that can be visited upon a quiet sixth grader and the succor that can be found in the hard-won friendship of peers and the attention of understanding elders." --Horn Book Magazine "A gentle and moving story." --Booklist "The fantasy of a forested getaway spot and the universality of Sam's self-doubt give this strong appeal to a wide audience, who will start prowling their own neighborhoods for secret arboreal hideaways." --Bulletin --