This book is so special to me. Whatever little heart strings I have, this book tugged away at each and every one of them. It is loaded with adventure, action, pain and wrapped in a bow of innocence.
    The child-like view was captured so well by the author. The had to grow up faster than most kids but at the heart of it all they were still just kids and wanting a home, a family, to be loved. I fell in love with all the characters and was completely thrown by the twists and turns. There is actually a wide array of characters, each person making an introduction to the 4 adventurers. Help them along their journey and shape the kids that much more. Each person gives the kids a valuable life lesson and honestly, life lessons we could take away as readers. 

 I fully enjoyed every moment of this book. From the beginning, to the adventurous middle and then the ending tied up in a little bow. It read like an old movie and made me nostalgic to movies like, Stand By Me, The Goonies, The Sandlot … although nothing really like these movie(?) I was transported back to the first time watching these movies and watching kids, just like me, go on an adventure. Kids facing the odds. With an added bonus, kids facing the odds while in the Great Depression. 
    The only real ‘criticism’ I have with the book is the author started to get a little preachy about the history of Native Americans. I did enjoy being educated a bit more about everything and I’m all about bringing light to sensitive topics, but it was the way the author did it that I think could fall on death ears. It felt more a lecture than a natural thing being talked about in the book. 

What an awesome story, though. Absolutely, totally, the best story ever. This one will really stick with me for awhile. Wish I read it sooner.