Winner, Red Cedar Award 2019
Winner, Silver Birch Fiction Award 2018
Winner, Rocky Mountain Book Award 2019
Finalist, Alberta Writers Guild 2019
Finalist, Foreword Indies Book of the Year 2017

“An honest portrayal of love, loss, and friendship.”— School Library Journal

My name is Calvin Sinclair, I'm eleven years old and I have a confession… I killed my brother.

It's the summer before grade six and Calvin Sinclair is bored to tears. He’s recently moved from a big city to a small town and there's nothing to do. It’s hot, he has no friends and the only kid around is his six-year-old brother, Sammy, who can barely throw a basketball as high as the hoop.

Cal occupies his time by getting his brother to do almost anything: from collecting ants to doing Calvin’s chores. And Sammy is all too eager - as long as it means getting a "Level" and moving one step closer to his brother's Eagle status.

When Calvin meets Aleta Alvarado, a new girl who shares his love for Goosebumps books and adventure, Sammy is pushed aside. Cal feels guilty but not enough to change. At least not until a diagnosis makes things at home start falling apart and he's left wondering whether Sammy will ever complete his own journey…

“Tender, direct, and honest.”—Kirkus Reviews

“A moving and ultimately hopeful book.”—Booklist

Check out Alex Lyttle's other book:
The Rise of Winter

CA

Alex Lyttle's profile page

"Avoiding sentimentality or easy answers, From Ant to Eagle explores the complex emotions of a family on the verge of “the cancer crumble” with stark honesty and warm compassion." —Beth Cooley, author, Ostrich Eye and Shelter

"An honest portrayal of love, loss, and friendship in the face of a life-changing journey." —Sarah Polace, School Library Journal

"From Ant to Eagle is a masterpiece. August (Wonder) and Melody (Out of My Mind) will now be in good company with Cal.” —Connie Halpern, Mrs. Figs' Bookworm, California

"This is a book about fear, joy, frustration, acceptance, forgiveness, anger and, above all, love. This is a story of emotional truth that is sure to captivate readers of all ages." —Ashley Spires, best-selling author and illustrator, The Most Magnificent Thing

"From Ant to Eagle is a wonderful conflation of heart, intelligence, and seriously skillful storytelling." —Andrew Norriss, author, Friends for Life and Jessica's Ghost

"Lyttle’s debut is an uncommonly honest examination of mortality and the ways in which growing up complicates sibling relationships . . . . Lyttle delicately tackles the subjects of grief and death, trusting middle-grade readers with a sophisticated story that includes notes of humor. A moving and ultimately hopeful book." —Booklist

"From Ant to Eagle is absolutely terrific. I was very moved and many elements of the story—the cancer crumble, beliefs about life and death, the nature of palliative care, the role of nurses, physicians, and the patients themselves in the oncology wheel—were not only riveting but informative.” —Paulette Bourgeois, author

"Lyttle's voice for Cal is appealingly direct and articulate . . . and his account of his struggle to cope will appeal to readers. Tender, direct, and honest." —Vicki Smith, Kirkus Reviews

"A poignant story about love, loss, family and friendships that will tug at your heartstrings long after you close the book." —Darlene Foster, author, Amanda Travels series