On a Wing and a Tear

Gr 4-6–Drawing on characters that may be familiar to readers of Smith’s other works, the novel follows Mel Roberts and Ray Halfmoon as their families move in together after meeting at a powwow. The Indigenous preteens provide each other with a built-in support system at school and on the road as they, along with Ray’s grandfather and their animal companions, go on a road trip for spring break. The story feels rooted in folklore, with the travelers seeking to get Bat, an animal elder, to a legendary rematch for a race against the birds. However, an author’s note clarifies that the book isn’t an “age-old traditional story” but pays tribute to Muscogee storytelling. History and romance dot the narrative, though this is an adventure story at its heart. Modern twists include high jinks from vloggers that threaten to derail the road-trippers’ successful arrival at their destination. The novel’s pacing elicits feelings of a never-ending school break, which may confuse some readers.