Critics' Opinion:
Readers' rating:
Published Jan 2009
176 pages
Genre: Literary Fiction
Publication Information
When Brother's dad is shipped off to Iraq, along with the rest of his reserve unit, Brother must help his grandparents keep the ranch going. He’s determined to maintain it just as his father left it, in the hope that doing so will ensure his father’s safe return. The hardships Brother faces will not only change the ranch, but also reveal his true calling.
"Starred Review. At once a gripping coming-of-age novel and a celebration of rural life, quiet heroism and the strength that comes from spirituality, this first novel is an unassuming, transcendent joy." - Kirkus Reviews.
"Brother’s spiritual growth and gentle but strong nature, in tandem with details of ranch life and the backdrop of war, add up to a powerful, unique coming-of-age story. Ages 8–12." - Publishers Weekly
"Isn't it wonderful that there are books like this—about good people, about striving, and about doing the right thing!" - Patricia Reilly Giff, two-time recipient of the Newbery Honor.
"A true evocation of modern ranch life, a life rooted in community and love, a life seldom written about with such grace and authenticity." - Molly Gloss, finalist for the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction.
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The stark beauty of eastern Oregon and the shared purpose of the ranching community made a lasting impression on Rosanne Parry. She found a similar rapport among the military families she knew when her husband was deployed to Iraq. She now lives in an old farmhouse in Portland, Oregon, with bunnies and chickens and her husband and four kids.
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