* "Readers will not be able to turn away from the harsh truths and honest beauty of this story. . . A novel that begs us not to forget about the heartbreaking poverty and tragedy the world holds, and that reminds us of the resilience we carry inside."

– School Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW

* “Engle’s words masterfully convey an evergreen human truth: that, in the end, we want to be able to live and love to our hearts’ content. A deeply touching read that will stay with readers long after they turn the last page.”

– Kirkus Reviews, STARRED Review

* "The first poem sets the tone immediately with its arresting opening line . . . and as readers dig deeper into the story of Liana, Amado, and their canine “Cupid,” Engle’s words evocatively depict how love can thrive even under the harshest conditions."

– Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

* "[Engle] doesn't back down from the harrowing depiction of this very real time . . . leaving the reader with a mix of melancholy and luminous hope. Two Cuban teens scavenge for food and hope in this harrowing novel in verse."

– Shelf Awareness, Starred Review

"At its heart, this is a tender love story, lyrically presented in alternating poetic voices . . . A deeply felt and engrossing look at a time when the grandparents lived “on a menu of memories” while the new generation survived “on nothing / but wishes.”

– The Horn Book Magazine

"The grinding, helpless reality of life with gnawing hunger is vividly conveyed through Liana’s and Amado’s voices . . . The irony of the impending Games . . . is keenly drawn. . . more memorable to readers will be the way two young people manage to survive, create, and find love amid fear and deprivation."

– BCCB