Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

A nature-loving kid and her stepsister explore the natural world. Now in her sixth year of life on the road with her field biologist mom, 9-year-old Brooke is thrilled to embark on more adventures. This year, the team expands: Her new stepdad and stepsister, Jayla, are moving into the RV that Brooke and her mom call home. Together, the quartet set out to document wildlife and glacier melt at Washington’s North Cascades National Park. Creative, excitable, and highly observant Brooke is delighted to have a new animal-spotting partner. But when Jayla serendipitously spots a majestic moose—the only animal on Brooke’s top 10 animals list that she hasn’t yet seen—Brooke begins making increasingly unsafe choices to outdo Jayla’s accomplishment. Interwoven into this emotionally compelling work of graphic fiction are pages from Brooke’s detailed journal highlighting tracking methods, wilderness backpack essentials, and more. Everett’s cartoon illustrations are tremendously colorful and cute without sacrificing accuracy or specificity when it comes to depicting wildlife, while the portrayal of Brooke and Jayla’s relationship highlights both the joys and challenges of a newly blended family. Budding and well-versed nature enthusiasts alike will enjoy gleaning new insights from Brooke’s plentiful observations on the natural world. Brooke is pink-haired and tan-skinned; Jayla is Black. Infectiously cute and enthusiastically educational.(Graphic fiction. 7-12) Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

School Library Journal
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Gr 1–4—Big changes are in store for nine-year-old nature nerd Brooke. Her mom married her best friend Jayla's dad and now the whole crew is headed to North Cascades National Park in their RV for some outdoorsy adventure. But this trip is mostly work for Brooke's mom and stepdad, so the girls are on their own to explore. Brooke is an expert land navigator and animal tracker, so she leads nature novice Jayla on the trails as they observe all kinds of four-legged and winged forest dwellers. The most elusive creature on Brooke's "Top Ten Most Wanted Mammals" list is the North American moose, and in her six years living on the road, she still hasn't seen one. But in the first few days of their camping trip, Jayla spots a moose by the riverbank and Brooke is devastated. Brooke's resentment builds, eventually putting them both in harm's way on a hike when she ignores Jayla's suspicions that a dangerous animal might be nearby. Debut graphic novelist Everett has the ever-appealing visual diary format down pat, and this title will find favor among many early elementary readers. Each chapter opens with a journal entry complete with spiral bindings, information-packed diagrams, and peripheral doodles that thoroughly immerse readers in Brooke's nature nerddom. Everett's accessible narrative and detail-rich illustrations have just the right amount of emotional depth. Brooke has tan skin with red hair, her mom has pale skin, and Jayla and her dad are Black. VERDICT A diary format best friend outdoor adventure worth taking, this is a recommended purchase for most libraries.—Sarah Simpson