"A poignant coming-of-age verse novel. ..."
     —Horn Book

 "Herrick's verse style perfectly suits this emotionally taut survival story. ... Readers will find this novel compelling, its fast-moving narrative rewarding. ..."
     —School Library Journal

"Herrick is a skillful storyteller and a practiced hand at verse novels like this one. He skillfully intertwines the lives of the teenagers and resolves the story in a satisfying way. The exotic Australian countryside adds a layer of interest to a story that seems to be universal in the minds of young adults."
     —Kirkus Reviews

"Moving. ...Herrick's fully realized characters convey their hopes in this touching, well-written story."
     —Publishers Weekly

"[A] dramatic story with a classic and teachable plot."
     —Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"Telling the story through the teens’ alternating narratives, the poetry is plain and beautiful, and the blend of family drama, romance, and perilous adventure will grab readers."
     —Booklist

"The isolated rural setting, the rugged Australian landscape, and the emotional barrenness of the central protagonist join elegantly the spare language of the free-verse poems in three voices that comprise this novel. ...As in his earlier verse novel, By the River (Front Street, 2006), Herrick excels at deftly illustrating the small dramas that shape lives and the complicated emotional investments that underpin daily choices."
     —Voice of Youth Advocates

"Herrick's verse is enchanting, with just enough Australian colloquialism to give it a nice flavor. The Australian setting is just mysterious enough to make the reader wonder what sort of creature is out there waiting to eat the sheep, but the symbolic meaning of the wolf (which may only be a feral dog) grows and grows as the cruelty of Mr. Harding becomes unbearable for Lucy and her mother. This book could easily be understood by middle school students, but older students will get more out of the subtleties of Herrick's words."
     —Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy