In 1990s woodsy northern Wisconsin, ten-year-old Fischer "Fish" Branson and Dale "Bread" Breadwin flee on a raft after believing that they have killed Bread's abusive father. They're followed by four frantic adults: Fish's mother and wilderness-smart grandfather, questing purple-haired gas station attendant Tiffany, and Sheriff Cal, who's starting to doubt his career choice. The publisher's lead read for the season and a debut with a 125,000-copy first printing.

DEBUT In 1990s northern Wisconsin, 10-year-old Fischer "Fish" Branson and Dale "Bread" Breadwin flee into the woods after believing that Fish has killed Bread's abusive father, eventually constructing a raft to carry them down a dangerous river. They're followed by four adults frantic to save them: woebegone sheriff Cal, newly arrived in Wisconsin and beginning to doubt his calling; gas station attendant Tiffany, a poet and outsider secretly longing for Cal; Fish's mother, a fierce Pentecostal not above cursing when she rides the rapids; and Fish's tough, wilderness-smart grandfather. The characters are expertly drawn in their shifting relationships, and the two boys' closeness and bravery are especially affecting. Realistically, they have moments of genuine tension in a narrative that is both an engaging adventure and a profound reflection on human bonding, what it means to be a man (and a good one), and the importance of persevering. Indeed, some iteration of the word hope appears nearly 100 times in the book, yet the result is never treacly; facing the life issues examined here in an unforgiving if beautifully rendered wilderness is no easy feat. VERDICT Highly recommended, whether you want literate thrills or thoughtful, affirming meditation.—Barbara Hoffert, Library Journal