I loved this story with its dual parts: one about Rafael Rosales growing up in the Dominican Republic and the other about Maya living in the Twin cities caring about bees and native grasses. I loved how their lives were never supposed to intersect but then — they did, in an amazing, charming, challenging way! Kurtis Scarletta handles the plot twists masterfully; early on I was convinced to leave myself in this capable writer’s hands and let the story take me where he wanted me to go. One of our jobs as humans is to give each other hope — that’s what this story is about. A great middle grade novel just waiting to be discovered by boys who like baseball, girls who love “native forbs” and everyone in between!