While this was not exactly the adventure story I was expecting (don’t worry, the adventurous hunt for the lost treasure is there) it was so much more beautiful and stuck with me in all the best ways. Jack has pretty much always seen the bad side of luck and the book doesn’t start any differently when he comes home from school to find his mother has hung herself in her bedroom. How father is in prison for a robbery where the stolen money was never recovered. Jack’s next choices are completely focused on his little brother Matty and how best to protect him. In an attempt to keep from losing his brother to foster care he decides he has to find the money as they have left than 20 dollars and they’re losing the house. This noble decision sets Jack off on a terrifying journey as he’s not the only one still thinking about that briefcase of money. Jack trusts no one but when Ava shows up he’ll find himself learning to grudgingly accept help. This book was so well written it read with a poetry that painted the picture with every word. I loved the relationship between Jack and Matty and honestly just their characters. They were delightful, brave, and caring. I’m not going to lie, this book did lead me to tears but it was because the characters were so well written that as they hit bumps and struggles I felt for them. I very much hope that Cory Anderson continues to write as this was exquisite!