Set against the backdrop of the 2008 Great Recession, this story follows twelve-year-old Anne. Watch as her world changes in an instant! After her father loses his job, she watches him slowly unravel, turning to alcohol in a desperate attempt to cope with the weight of providing for his family. With money tight and tension rising at home, Anne, a brave and resilient young girl, must sacrifice her summer plans and work in her grandfather's onion patch to help pay for her sister Libby's preschool tuition. Life on the farm is isolating. With no Wi-Fi and no cell towers for miles, Anne feels cut off from everything familiar. Her only companions are a scruffy mongrel dog and two kind neighbors, Ozzy and Steven, whom she visits at the local dairy. Yet even these small comforts can't quiet her growing fear that her father's worsening state may put Libby in harm's way. Determined to protect her sister, Anne forms a bold plan-one that involves navigating the winding waters of the Yellowstone River hoping to get back home before it's too late. As she ventures into the unknown, Anne must draw on every bit of courage and resilience she has. Will her risky journey bring her home in time to save her sister, or will the river carry her farther from everything she loves? Despite her worries, the fierce dog she must tame, and the exhausting farm work, Anne's story is a fun ride filled with love and humor, friendship and adventure. Although her river adventure is both futile and heart-stopping, Anne's summer at a farm immerses readers in a rural experience readers will remember and a grandfather they'll cherish.
