"Gorgeous . . . The impressionistic, color-rich paintings are as warm and expressive as the lyrical story." --Starred, Kirkus Reviews
"In subtle, cadenced poetry, Harrington brings close the stark realities blacks faced in the segregated South. Lagarrigue's paintings beautifully capture the family scenes...in soft-edged, thickly brushed strokes that heighten the powerful emotions in Jesse's words - the nostalgia, the worry, and the bittersweet hope about a promising new place."
-- Starred, Booklist
"Lagarrigue's paintings are...powerful and well-suited to Harrington's somber, poetic narrative voice. A solid choice for readers." -- Starred, School Library Journal
"Harrington's...attention to detail deepens the symbolic resonance of the family's journey. Lagarrigue's deeply hued, soul-stirring landscapes escort the family...together, text and illustration offer an almost tangible embodiment of the regrets that accompany leaving and the anticipation of better things to come." -- The Bulletin for the Center of Children's Books
