Written by Canadian Métis author Sara de Waard, this engaging story offers complex conflicts, humour, and stylistically rich elements. It is a story about Melissa, whose recent birthdays are painful reminders of her little brother’s tragic accident. Readers follow her on a healing journey through which she must navigate traumatic abuse from her parents and wrestle with her own guilt. Suitable for a secondary audience, this novel lends itself to a classroom novel study and may encourage readers to reflect on current issues and themes around substance abuse, mental health, and trauma caused by parental abuse. Teachers may use the story to broach subjects such as systemic inequities or promote an exploration of one’s identity, past, and familial connections.