“Higgs-Coulthard delivers a gritty, emotionally nuanced read about an unhoused teen searching for his absent father. . . . Utilizing atmospherically tense prose and layered, moving characterizations, this melancholy novel showcases one teen struggling to cultivate a better life for himself while navigating financial precarity and personal betrayal.”—Publishers Weekly

“Empathetic readers will root for Josh and Twig as both are three-dimensional characters who need caring adults to come to their aid. The ending provides a hopeful ending. . . . A smart purchase. . . .”—School Library Connection

“A visceral story. . . .”—Kirkus Reviews

Kat Higgs-Coulthard is a graduate of University of Nebraska at Omaha and the author of Junkyard Dogs, described by Kirkus as  "A mean-streets-style tale raw in language and feeling alike . . .visceral."  Her work has appeared in Cleaver, Women on Writing, and School Library Journal. She is an associate professor of Education at Saint Mary’s College and Director of Michiana Writers' Center. She lives in Niles, Michigan.