Is it nature, or is it nurture that makes a family? Mitchard brings the timeless question into crystal-clear focus in this tale of a child whose parents die tragically and whose future will likely have to be decided in the court system. The fierce love young Keefer Nye instills in her grandparents, her uncle, her cousins, and her community transcends all artificially constructed boundaries. The author captures with aching clarity the emotions of adults who stand to lose the most beloved thing in their lives. We are drawn irrevocably into this complex story, and we CARE about its outcome. While it is true that events are definitely amplified for dramatic effect, Mitchard skillfully manages to avoid gushy sentimentality and emotional manipulation, leaving our hearts warmed but our dignity as intelligent, discerning readers intact.