Foster Care Month

   The following is from the web site home page of National Foster Care Month. Visit http://www.fostercaremonth.org/Home/ for more information and ways to join in the efforts to change the lives of children who are not able to live with their parents.

   Foster Care Month originated in 1988 when the National Foster Parent Association persuaded then Senator Strom Thurmond to introduce a resolution to proclaim May as National Foster Care Month. President George H.W. Bush issued an annual proclamation during each year of his presidency, providing an impetus for state, county and city proclamations. The main focus of the early efforts was appreciation and recognition of the tremendous contributions of foster parents across the nation.

   In the 1990's, Foster Care Month focused on youth in transition, and under the leadership of the National Foster Care Coalition and Casey Family Programs it became a significant part of the drumbeat that ultimately resulted in the passage of the Chafee Foster Care Independence Act.

   Casey Family Programs has continued to lead the effort in partnership now with 13 national organizations that represent well-over 250,000 individuals and providers. The focus of the effort is to call all Americans to take action on behalf of the children and youth in foster care and to make certain Americans know how they can change a lifetime in their own community starting in May and extending year round.

   Listed below are a number of books that deal with family issues involving foster care and children who are not able to live with their parents. The books are intended for a wide range of readers. Carefully consider age appropriateness when choosing books to share with children and young adults.

Contributor: Sheilah Egan

Reviews

Adam and Eve and Pinch-Me
Julie Johnston
   Adam and Eve and Pinch-Me explores the meaning of family. Hardened by her knock-around life as a foster child, fifteen-year-old Sara Moone enters the Huddleston household already planning to leave. She can hardly wait to be on her own. But the older man and woman and another foster child manage to pierce her shell so that when Sara's birth mother tracks her down, Sara must ask herself a difficult question: Who is her real family? Through the first-person narrative, author Julie Johnston conveys well Sara's prickly personality, fierce independence and vulnerability. 1994, Puffin, $14.95 and $4.99. Ages 11 up. Reviewer: Mary Quattlebaum (Children's Literature). (Not currently available for purchase but check your library or used book resource as this is an especially good book.)
Best Books:

  • Adventuring with Books: A Booklist for Pre-K--Grade 6, 1997; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
  • Books for You: An Annotated Booklist for Senior High, Thirteenth Edition, 1997;
  • National Council of Teachers of English; United States
  • Kirkus Book Review Stars, 1994; United States
  • Middle And Junior High School Library Catalog, Eighth Edition, 2000; H.W. Wilson; United States
  • Middle and Junior High School Library Catalog, Ninth Edition, 2005; H.W. Wilson; United States
  • Notable Books for Children, 1994; American Library Association-ALSC; United States
  • Notable Children's Books in the Language Arts, 1995; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
    Awards, Honors, Prizes:
  • Governor General's Literary Awards Winner 1994 Children's Literature (Text) Canada
  • Ruth Schwartz Children's Book Award Winner 1995 Young Adult Canada Young Adult Canadian Book Award Winner 1995 Canada
    State and Provincial Reading Lists:
  • Manitoba Young Readers Choice Award, 1997; Nominee; Manitoba, Canada
  • South Carolina Book Awards, 1997; Nominee; Young Adult Book; South Carolina
    ISBN: 0140375880
    ISBN: 0-316-46990-4

    Andy Shane and the Very Bossy Dolores Starbuckle
    Jennifer Richard Jacobson
    Illustrated by Abby Carter
       Andy Shane does not like school. It is not that the work is too hard, or that the teacher is mean, or that the subjects are boring. It is all because of mean, bossy Dolores Starbuckle. She acts like she knows everything and tells on everyone. She drives Andy crazy; he would rather stay home with Granny Web than have to face this particular classmate. This is a story that kids can relate to--in almost every class there is a Dolores. Even though the moral is to be true to yourself, Jacobson never lets the plot seem old. The story is still fresh and relevant to kids. The fact that Andy is being raised not by a mom and dad, but by his grandmother represents a growing portion of the population. Kids who are in a similar situation will appreciate seeing a character like them. All in all, this is a book everyone will love. 2005, Candlewick Press, $13.99. Ages 6 to 8. Reviewer: Heather Robertson (Children's Literature).
    Best Books:

  • Kirkus Book Review Stars, June 15, 2005; United States
  • School Library Journal Book Review Stars, August 2005; Cahners; United States
    State and Provincial Reading Lists:
  • 2x2 Reading List, 2006; Age 2 to Grade 2; United States
    ISBN: 076361940X

    Anna Casey's Place in the World
    Adrian Fogelin
       Twelve-year-old Anna Casey is fresh out of relatives when she comes under the care of Miss Dupree, her new foster mother. Miss Dupree is new at the foster mother business. She is single, overly tidy, does not believe in junk food and runs a dating service out of her home. Lively and quick-thinking Anna is determined to make a permanent home for herself. Placed with Anna is scrawny Eb, a feisty kid with a mind of his own. Eb does not think it is necessary to please, as he is convinced that his mom will be picking him up soon. Armed with Anna's explorer's notebook, the two children set out to map the neighborhood and pick up a stone. Anna has obtained a stone from the four other places she has lived. Soon they meet two new friends, a homeless Vietnam vet who hears messages from the radio in his brain, and an unconventional biology teacher, Miss Johnette. Other children and the entire neighborhood become involved in Anna's scheme to move a forest. Just when things are looking up, something happens and Anna is sure that her placement will not last. The trials and tribulations of growing up come to life in a poignant story filled with delightful characters and a lively plot. You will want to give Anna a hug as she fights desperately to find her place in the world. 2001, Peachtree, $14.95. Ages 9 to 12. Reviewer: Laura Hummel (Children's Literature).
    Best Books:

  • Adventuring with Books: A Booklist for Pre-K-Grade 6 13th Edition, 2002; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
  • The Best Children's Books of the Year, 2003; Bank Street College of Education; United States
    Awards, Honors, Prizes:
  • Carol D .Reiser Book Award Winner 2003 United States
    ISBN: 1561452491

    Ball Don't Lie
    Matt de la Peña
       Seventeen-year-old Sticky never had a chance at a "normal" life. Son of a drugged-up prostitute who committed suicide when he was seven, he has been floundering in the foster care system ever since. A series of failed placements taught Sticky early on not to get too close to anyone. He has developed an outer skin so tough that no one can get close to him, and that is the way he wants it. He is an aloof street kid who just wants to be left alone. Additionally, Sticky is tortured by obsessive-compulsive behavior. He has to repeat even simple actions like tying his shoes, or dropping coins into a bowl, over and over again until it feels just right. Things change, however, when he moves to Venice Beach, meets the pretty Vietnamese girl, Anh-Thu, and starts hanging out at Lincoln Rec. His obsessive-compulsiveness causes him to spend hours and hours on the basketball court perfecting his game until he is the best player of the bunch. A skinny white kid among a group of rough, mostly black men, Sticky has finally found a family and a place to call home. The nonlinear narrative jumps between current and past events and is told from a variety of viewpoints using a mixture of street/trash talk, and basketball jargon. It moves with a pace that feels somewhat like a bouncing basketball. The story starts out slowly, but if readers can stick with it through the first few chapters, they will soon be hooked. 2005, Delacorte Press, $16.95. Ages 14 up. Reviewer: Pat Trattles (Children's Literature).
    Best Books:

  • Best Books for Young Adults, 2006; American Library Association-YALSA-Adult Books for Young Adults Task Force; United States
  • Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers, 2006; American Library Association; United States
  • School Library Journal Book Review Stars, November 2005; Cahners; United States
    ISBN: 0-385-73232-5
    ISBN: 0-385-90258-1

    Breakout
    Paul Fleischman
       Del, the main character, is a 17-year of girl who has been moving in and out of foster homes her entire life. Her experiences have made her cynical and wary of adults but she never gives in to self-pity. Instead she decides to leave L.A. and make a new life for herself, but her plans are foiled when she gets caught in traffic. This sounds like a substantial plot in and of itself, however, in this book the reader gets to know Del twice over; first, as a teenage girl caught in traffic on the day she is running away from home and, second, as a woman eight years later on the opening night of her performance inspired from the insights she had while stuck on the road. The book alternates between the two stories so the teenage Del's progression from anger to acceptance of her situation is interspersed with excerpts from her future self's show. Fleischman has found a clever way to meld the voices of the young and mature Del--the former as she experiences a life-altering event and the latter as she re-enacts it years later. This book teaches the importance of perseverance in the face of adversity without coming across as sermonizing. Readers will be touched and amused by Del's spirit and sense of humor. 2003, Cricket Books, $15.95. Ages 13 to 16. Reviewer: Rihoko Ueno (Children's Literature).
    Best Books:

  • The Children's Literature Choice List, 2004; Children's Literature; United States
  • Choices, 2004; Cooperative Children's Book Center; United States
  • Kirkus Book Review Stars, August 15, 2003; United States
  • Middle and Junior High School Library Catalog, Ninth Edition, 2005; H.W. Wilson; United States
  • Middle and Junior High School Library Catalog, Supplement to the Eighth Edition, 2004, 2004; H.W. Wilson; United States
  • Recommended Teen Books, 2003; Bank Street College of Education; United States
  • School Library Journal Book Review Stars, September 2003; Cahners; United States
  • Senior High School Library Catalog, Sixteenth Edition, 2004 Supplement, 2004; H.W. Wilson; United States
    Awards, Honors, Prizes:
  • National Book Awards Finalist 2003 Young People's Literature United States
    State and Provincial Reading Lists:
  • Kentucky Bluegrass Award, 2005; Nominee; Grades 9-12; Kentucky
  • Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award, 2005-2006; Nominee; Young Adult; Pennsylvania
  • Young Reader's Choice Award, 2006; Nominee; Grades 10-12; Pacific Northwest
    ISBN: 0812626966

    Bud, Not Buddy
    Christopher Paul Curtis
       It has really been hard for Bud since his Mama died--one foster home after another. When he runs away from a family that really mistreats him, all he knows is that his long lost father must be the famed jazz musician Herman E. Calloway. Otherwise, why would his Mama have kept the posters? Good luck and friendly folk help Bud reach Mr. Calloway, but his supposed daddy is none too welcoming. The band members and vocalist are just the opposite. Bud is a spunky and likable kid, and this book has a fairy tale ending--it all works out for Bud and readers are left with a truly warm and happy feeling. However, the hard times during the Depression and especially the difficulties faced by African Americans are not ignored. A fast read for individual readers and a great book to read aloud. 1999, Delacorte, $15.95. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature).

       In a hymn to self-reliance Bud, Not Buddy is poignant and funny story is narrated by Bud Caldwell, a foster kid in search of the jazz-musician father he's never met. As Bud travels through Depression-era Michigan, young readers can experience Hoovervilles, big bands, and other signs of the times . A great read for black History Month. 1999, Delacorte, $15.95. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Mary Quattlebaum (Children's Literature).

       Christopher Paul Curtis's star shines bright in his Newbery Medal winner, Bud, Not Buddy. A multi-layered, rhythmic story of Bud Caldwell, 10, who runs from his latest bad foster home to track down the man he believes is his father, bandleader H.E. Calloway. Why would his dead momma have kept flyers of Calloway if he wasn't his father? This journey begins when Bud leaves Flint, Michigan to walk to Grand Rapids to find Calloway. Along the way he meets a rich cast of characters who help him even though the going is tough. Never does Bud lose his humor or his purpose in life. The "Bud Caldwell Rules and Things for Having a Funner Life and Making a Better Liar Out of Yourself" are savvy and show Bud's street smarts, e.g. Rule #83--If an adult tells you not to worry, and your weren't worried before, you better hurry up and start 'cause you're already running late. It would be challenging to make a sound track of big band music from the '20s and '30s to accompany the story. 1999, Delacorte, $15.95. Ages 9 to 12. Reviewer: Jan Lieberman (Children's Literature).

       Children's book fans had a red-letter day when the Newbery Award was announced. Curtis' book follows a young African-American boy as he struggles to find a home during the Depression. The author takes on a difficult time and seemingly sad plot, but Bud, the hero, has humor and originality that will open new doors and understanding about this era. 1999, Delacorte, $15.95. Ages 10 up. Reviewer: Susie Wilde (Children's Literature).
    Best Books:

  • Adventuring with Books: A Booklist for Pre-K-Grade 6 13th Edition, 2002; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
  • Best Books for Young Adults, 2000; American Library Association-YALSA; United States
  • Books for You: An Annotated Booklist for Senior High, Fourteenth Edition, 2001;
  • National Council of Teachers of English; United States
  • Books That Comfort Us, 2002; Bank Street College of Education; United States
  • Books to Read Aloud to Children of All Ages, 2003; Bank Street College of Education; United States
  • Capitol Choices, 1999; The Capitol Choices Committee; United States
  • Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, 2001; H.W. Wilson; United States
  • The Children's Literature Choice List, 2000; Children's Literature; United States
  • Kaleidoscope, A Multicultural Booklist for Grades K-8, Fourth Edition, 2003; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
  • Lasting Connections, 1999; American Library Association; United States
  • Los Angeles' 100 Best Books, 1999; IRA Children's Literature and Reading SIG and the Los Angeles Unified School District; United States
  • Middle And Junior High School Library Catalog, Eighth Edition, 2000; H.W. Wilson; United States
  • Middle and Junior High School Library Catalog, Ninth Edition, 2005; H.W. Wilson; United States
  • Notable Books for a Global Society, 2000; International Reading Association; United States
  • Notable Books for Children, 2000; American Library Association-ALSC; United States
  • Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, 2000; National Council for the Social Studies NCSS; United States
  • Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, August 1999; Cahners; United States Recommended Literature: Kindergarten through Grade Twelve, 2002; California Department of Education; California
  • School Library Journal Book Review Stars, September 1999; Cahners; United States
  • School Library Journal: Best Books, 1999; Cahners; United States
    Awards, Honors, Prizes:
  • ABC Children's Booksellers Choices Award Winner 2000 Middle Grade Readers United States
  • American Booksellers Book Sense Book of the Year (ABBY) Award Finalist 2000 Children United States
  • Arizona Young Readers' Award Winner 2002 Young Adult Arizona
  • Children's Book Award Winner 2000 Older Reader United States
  • Coretta Scott King Awards Winner 2000 Author United States
  • Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award Winner 2001 Vermont
  • The Golden Kite Award Honor Book 1999 Fiction United States
  • Great Lakes Great Book Award Honor Book 2001 Grades 6-8 United States
  • John Newbery Medal Winner 2000 United States
  • Land of Enchantment Book Award Winner 2003 Young Adult New Mexico
  • Louisiana Young Readers' Choice Award Honor 2002 Louisiana
  • Louisiana Young Readers' Choice Award Honor Book 2002 Louisiana
  • Maine Student Book Award Second Place 2001 Maine
  • Massachusetts Children's Book Award Honor Book 2002 Massachusetts
  • Mitten Award Winner 1999 United States
  • Nene Award Winner 2002 Grades 4-6 Hawaii
  • Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award Winner 2001 Grades 6-8 Pennsylvania
  • Prairie Pasque Award Winner 2002 South Dakota
  • Volunteer State Book Award Winner 2003 Grades 4-6 Vermont
  • William Allen White Children's Book Award Winner 2002 Grades 6-8 Kansas
  • Young Reader's Choice Award Winner 2002 Junior Pacific Northwest
    State and Provincial Reading Lists:
  • Arizona Young Readers' Award, 2002; Nominee; Teen Books; Arizona
  • Buckeye Children's Book Award, 2002; Nominee; Grades 6-8; Ohio
  • Flicker Tale Children's Book Award, 2001; Nominee; Juvenile; North Dakota
  • Garden State Children's Book Award, 2002; Nominee; Fiction; New Jersey
  • Indian Paintbrush Book Award, 2002; Nominee; Wyoming
  • Land of Enchantment Book Award, 2002-2003; Nominee; Young Adult; New Mexico
  • Louisiana Young Readers' Choice Award, 2002; Nominee; Louisiana
  • Maine Student Book Award, 2000-2001; Nominee; Maine
  • Massachusetts Children's Book Award, 2002; Nominee; Massachusetts
  • Michigan Reader's Choice Award, 2001; Nominee; Grades 6 - 8; Michigan
  • The Nene Award, 2002; Nominee; Hawaii
  • Prairie Pasque Award, 2002; Nominee; South Dakota
  • Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award, 2002; Nominee; Illinois
  • Red Cedar Book Awards, 2001-2002; Nominee; Fiction; British Columbia, Canada
  • Sunshine State Young Reader's Award, 2001-2002; Nominee; Grades 6-8; Florida
  • Texas Bluebonnet Award, 2002; Nominee; Texas
  • Volunteer State Book Award, 2001-2002; Nominee; Young Adult; Tennessee
  • West Virginia Children's Book Award, 2001-2002; Nominee; West Virginia
  • William Allen White Children's Book Award, 2001-2002; Nominee; Grades 6-8; Kansas
  • Young Reader's Choice Award, 2002; Nominee; Junior Division-Grades 4th-6th; Pacific Northwest
    ISBN: 0-385-32306-9

    The Canning Season
    Polly Horvath
       Polly Horvath has developed a reputation for unusual characters. There's another wild, wacky cast in her 2003 National Book award-winning, The Canning Season. The main character is thirteen-year-old Ratchet Clark, whose mother, Henrietta, is an irresponsible woman who cares only about getting into the Hunt Club and hiding "That Thing" that grows on Ratchet's shoulder blade. At the story's start, Henrietta tells Ratchet she's being sent to her ninety-one-year-old twin aunts who live on a remote ancestral Maine blueberry farm. Henrietta describes them as "casket-ready by now. Penpen was kind of fat and happy-happy all the time, and Tilly looked like a sphincter." These elderly twins live up to Horvath's talents for inventing intriguing characters and the author lets them speak for themselves in a way that may make readers uncomfortable. Early on, they describe how a governess once described them as "little fucks." The aunts are used to offending and shocking those around them, but Rachet is drawn into their stories as they describe how their mother chopped off her own head to escape the boredom of the remote Maine woods, and Peppen's brief marriage to a man who was "a series of hairy moles like some kind of giant connect-the-dot game in the flesh." The two ancients plan to die together and are filled with a morbidity that is fascinating. But Ratchet brings them new life as does Harper, a saucy young teen deserted on their doorstep. The girls' lives become rich with ripening blueberries, family stories, and the eccentricity of their elders. The plot is not extraordinary; the writing is a witty blend of dark and light, but quirky characters make this book memorable. 2003, Farrar Strauss Giroux, $16.00. Ages 11 to 14. Reviewer: Susie Wilde (Children's Literature).

       Part realism, part fantasy, this tale unites two ancient sisters, Tilly and Penpen, with two neglected adolescent girls badly in need of some care and attention. The elderly "aunts" live in an isolated castle-like mansion in the Maine woods surrounded by vicious bears, real or legendary. Aunt Tilly regales the girls (left by unappealing, self-absorbed parents) with family stories that include a gruesome death and sometimes, bad language. Both mousy Ratchet and mouthy Harper eventually find acceptance in this odd environment, helping the old ladies, learning to survive, reviving the neglected blueberry canning business. Aunt Tilly, alcoholic and fading fast, is the first to die, leaving her sister bereft. But Harper has learned to be a gardener who is fascinated by worms, and Ratchet has shed her great burden, both physical and psychological. In a glimpse into the future (or were we in the past?), the author lets us know that all turned out well for the girls, who have blossomed, each in her own way. Full of eccentric characters, more symbolic than real, the story seems to drift along through sometimes endless-seeming recollections and anticlimactic events. Polly Horvath, author of several award-winning books, has, however, found both comedy and poignancy in this story of the affecting relationship between two widely-separated generations, showing that isolation and apathy can be overcome in the most unexpected ways. Not all readers will warm to this story, but those who enjoy a more offbeat tale and a less linear structure will find much to ponder. 2003, Farrar Straus and Giroux, $16.00. Ages 11 to 16. Reviewer: Barbara L. Talcroft (Children's Literature).

       This is the story of several abandoned people--Ratchet, the female protagonist, abandoned by her mother because of a deformity that is never explicitly defined, and because of her mother's social aspirations, Harper, who is abandoned simply because she is not loved, and Aunt Tilly and Aunt Penpen, who have let life pass them by, but seem quite happy about it. Circumstances bring them together in an old house at the end of a long drive in a remote area of Maine but there is nothing remote about this story. There was a terrible death, the suicide of Aunt Tilly and Aunt Penpen's mother, and it is in your face more than once, but this is really a story about love and redemption and hope. I see it as just as positive as Everything on a Waffle, it is just that the world outside is a lot darker. There is pain in this story but there is hope. I gave it to one of our families who has gone through a hard time, and I suggested that they all read it aloud, for the joyful ending. 2003, Farrar Straus & Giroux, $16.00. Ages 12 up. Reviewer: Edie Ching (Children's Literature).
    Best Books:

  • Best Books for Young Adults, 2004; American Library Association-YALSA; United States
  • The Children's Literature Choice List, 2004; Children's Literature; United States
  • Fanfare Honor List, 2003; Horn Book; United States
  • Kirkus Book Review Stars, May 1, 2003; United States
  • Middle and Junior High School Library Catalog, Ninth Edition, 2005; H.W. Wilson; United States
  • Middle and Junior High School Library Catalog, Supplement to the Eighth Edition, 2004, 2004; H.W. Wilson; United States
  • Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, June 9, 2003; Cahners; United States
  • School Library Journal Book Review Stars, May 2003; Cahners; United States
  • School Library Journal: Best Books, 2003; Cahners; United States
  • Washington Post The Best of 2003, 2003; United States
    Awards, Honors, Prizes:
  • National Book Awards Winner 2003 Young People's Literature United States
    State and Provincial Reading Lists:
  • Garden State Teen Book Awards, 2006; Nominee; Fiction-Grades 6-8; New Jersey Teens' Top Ten List, 2003; Nominee; United States
    ISBN: 0-374-39956-5

    Chance and the Butterfly
    Maggie de Vries
    Illustrations by Cindy Ghent
       Chance's third grade class is raising butterflies--fat, green caterpillars for now, soon to be Painted Ladies. Chance is fascinated. He has learned everything he can about them, and he can't wait until his special caterpillar, the one he named Matilda, changes. But Matilda is only part of the story. This is really about Chance, recently arrived in yet another new foster home and school. His new parents are kind and patient enough, but Chance knows that won't last. So what, he thinks, is the point in trying to care back? But in caring for Matilda, he begins caring about others, including himself, which makes all the difference. Chance is a remarkable character, in that he is so recognizable from the outside, and so understandable on the inside. Maggie de Vries treats this troubled little boy with dignity and has a compassionate understanding of the deliberation or impulsiveness behind his actions, and the urgency of his passions and frustrations. Metaphorically speaking, Chance's belligerent, cynical self is the chrysalis from which, like a butterfly, he can and will emerge; and to De Vries credit, we can tell Chance will continue to grow well beyond book's end. 2002, Orca Book Publishers, $4.99. Ages 7 to 10. Reviewer: Wendy Morris (Children's Literature).
    Awards, Honors, Prizes:

  • Sheila A. Egoff Children's Literature Prize Shortlist 2002 Canada
    State and Provincial Reading Lists:
  • Chocolate Lily Young Readers' Choice Award, 2002-2003; Nominee; Chapter Book & Novel; British Columbia, Canada
  • Diamond Willow Award, 2003; Nominee; Upper Elementary Readers; Saskatchewan, Canada
  • Silver Birch Award, 2003; Nominee; Fiction; Ontario, Canada
    ISBN: 1551432080

    Finding the Right Spot: When Kids Can't Live with Their Parents
    Janice Levy
    Illustrated by Whitney Martin
       Only her mother is allowed to call her Cowgirl and together they dream of the day when they will live on a ranch with horses. But the little girl in Finding the Right Spot is not living with her mother, who drinks too much and can't keep a job. She lives with a foster parent whom she calls Aunt Dane. Aunt Dane is the best of foster parents, not trying to replace a mother but letting her foster child feel loved, letting her know it's okay to cry, encouraging her to enjoy today. The little girl waits eagerly for her mother to come celebrate her birthday and when she doesn't, she shares her love with a new puppy instead. The animated illustrations are touching and true. The story is told simply and honestly, offering foster children a chance to identify with someone like themselves and perhaps help them open up about their thoughts and worries. As a classroom read-aloud this poignant story can generate understanding and empathy for different sorts of families and family situations. It is also perfect reading for any adults who are caring for children who are not their own. At the end, a two-page "Note to Caregivers" discusses the range of emotions such children feel--repeated disappointment, loss, uncertainty, perennial hope, complicated loyalties. The caregiver in turn can listen to the child and offer empathy, time to adjust and reassurance. 2004, Magination Press, $14.95. Ages 6 up. Reviewer: Karen Leggett (Children's Literature).
    ISBN: 1591470730
    ISBM: 1591470749

    Gossamer
    Lois Lowry
       Littlest One is an apprentice dream giver whose playful spirit drives her mentor, Fastidious, away. But with the help of Thin Elderly she is fast learning how to touch objects, harvest good associations and memories, and deliver them to humans as they sleep. In chapters alternating between fantasy and reality, we meet young John who is placed in the home of a kind old woman to recover from the abuse he has suffered at the hands of his father. Because he is so vulnerable, the Sinisteed begins to attack his dreams to deliver powerful and unsettling nightmares. Thin Elderly and Littlest One must strengthen John each night to withstand the Sinisteed's attempts--or worse, that of the Horde. The novel is elegantly and sparingly written. The pacing is taut and the characterization surprisingly full given the length of the book (140 pages). 2006, Houghton Mifflin Company, $16.00. Ages 10 to 14. Reviewer: Joan Kindig, Ph.D. (Children's Literature).
    Best Books:

  • Kirkus Book Review Stars, March 1, 2006; United States
  • Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, March 6, 2006; Cahners; United States
    ISBN: 978-0-618-68550-9
    ISBN: 0-618-68550-2

    The Great Gilly Hopkins
    Katherine Paterson
       Gillly Hopkins is eleven years old, and she is being sent to live with a new foster family--again. Gilly wants desperately to belong, but she has decided that her best chance for success is to be in control of every situation and to avoid trusting anybody. Her aim in life is to be reunited with her biological mother, but letters to her mother never bring results. In her new home, she bides her time until she can steal money from a blind man next door to buy a ticket to visit her mother. She is caught by the police and returned to the foster home where she learns the meaning of forgiveness, tough love, and family values. Just when she starts to feel a sense of belonging to the foster family who loves her, her grandmother shows up to take her "home." There are some tense moments and a surprise ending, but Gilly learns a lot about life and becomes a stronger, more self-reliant person with an appreciation for the strengths and weaknesses of others. Readers will empathize with the characters in this absorbing story of people who are thrown together and must help each other cope with life's problems and disappointments. The ending is realistic and satisfying. This is an excellent book, especially for students who think life would be great if they could control all decisions. Highly recommended. 2003 (orig. 1978), Harper Trophy/HarperCollins Publishers, $5.99. Ages 10 to 15. Reviewer: Marilyn Walls (Children's Literature).
    Best Books:

  • Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, 2001; H.W. Wilson; United States
  • Middle And Junior High School Library Catalog, Eighth Edition, 2000; H.W. Wilson; United States
  • Middle and Junior High School Library Catalog, Ninth Edition, 2005; H.W. Wilson; United States
  • Recommended Literature: Kindergarten through Grade Twelve, 2002; California Department of Education; California
    Awards, Honors, Prizes:
  • Christopher Awards Winner 1979 Ages 9-12 United States
  • Georgia Children's Book Award Winner 1981 Georgia Children's Book Awards Georgia
  • Iowa Children's Choice Award Winner 1981 Iowa Children's Choice Award Grades 3-6 Iowa
  • Jane Addams Children's Book Award Honor Book 1979 United States
  • John Newbery Medal Honor Book 1979 United States
  • Massachusetts Children's Book Award Winner 1981 Grades 4-6 Massachusetts
  • William Allen White Children's Book Award Winner 1981 Kansas
    State and Provincial Reading Lists:
  • California Young Reader Medal, 1981; Nominee; Intermediate; California
    ISBN: 0-06-440201-0
    ISBN: 0-690-03838-0

    Grover G. Graham and Me
    Mary Quattlebaum
       Feeling about as wanted as an ugly, prickly seed ball on a sweet gum tree, eleven-year-old Ben heads for his eighth foster home. Accustomed to being temporary, he knows how to blank out words and people--until he meets the Torgles. Mr. T's perplexing words of wit and wisdom float around in his head whether he wants them or not. And what about Grover, the infant, who is also in temporary care? How can quiet Ben, who arranges his thoughts A-B-C, blank out a baby who is chaos with a capital C? To make matters worse, Ben knows all the mistakes parents can make--never changing sheets, forgetting meals, leaving you--and he can see that Grover's real mom is clearly bad-parent material. So, armed with Dr. Spock and Hop on Pop, Ben claims Grover for himself, even when it means breaking the law. Almost as memorable as Gilly Hopkins but easier to love, Ben will grab readers and not let go. A full cast of strong characters, an honest and funny child-point-of-view, and a vital story make this book a real gem. Kids will enjoy reading it as much as teachers will look forward to reading it aloud. 2001, Delacorte, $14.95. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Betty Hicks (Children's Literature).
    Best Books:

  • Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, Supplement, 2003; H.W. Wilson; United States
    State and Provincial Reading Lists:
  • Black-Eyed Susan Book Award, 2004-2005; Nominee; Grades 4-6; Maryland
  • Virginia Young Readers Program, 2005-2006; Nominee; Elementary School Level; Virginia
  • Volunteer State Book Award, 2004-2005; Nominee; Grades 4-6; Tennessee
    ISBN: 0-385-32277-1

    A House Between Homes: Youth in the Foster Care System
    Joyce Libal
       Five year old Bobby and three year old Kara have learned that they have to do things for themselves because their mother will not. Their mother cares about her friends more than her children. She easily gets upset about simple matters and would hit the children to try to get them to listen. The children were also sworn to secrecy not to tell anyone about their mother's ways. Not even their father knew how things had become since he was away in the Navy. These little children as well as others live in a world where their worst nightmares become reality. If their circumstances are made known, the department of social services (DSS) can be of great help. Children can be placed in foster homes where they will be safe and well taken care of. The courts and the DSS work together to try to put families back together. But this is not always the best and sometimes children are able to be adopted by loving families who will better care for them. Reading this book gives one the understanding of the foster care system and the history of it. This well written book helps the reader comprehend the different aspects of the foster care system and how they work. Teens, parents, and teachers would benefit from reading the interesting information in this book. This book is part of the "Youth with Special Needs" series. 2004, Mason Crest Publishers Inc, $24.95. Ages 13 to adult. Reviewer: Cathi I. White (Children's Literature).
    ISBN: 1590847407
    ISBN: 159084727X

    Maybe Days: a Book for Children in Foster Care
    Jennifer Wilgocki and Marcia Kahn Wright
    Illustrated by Alissa Imre Geis
       This interesting book is designed primarily for foster parents to share with their foster child, but any professional, including teachers, counselors, ministers or those in the legal profession, would benefit from reading it or having it in their office. All sides of the foster care situation are discussed with great sensitivity to the feelings of the foster child. Parents, foster parents, professionals as well as the court system are profiled with a point of view that everyone is working for the benefit of the foster child. Bright, watercolor illustrations portray families in all situations in the community and at home without necessarily relating specifically to the text. A lengthy note to foster parents and other adults further defines some of the issues surrounding foster care. 2002, Magination Press, $8.95. Ages 4 to 10. Reviewer: Meredith Kiger, Ph.D. (Children's Literature).
    ISBN: 155798803X
    ISBN: 1557988021

    Nellie's Promise
    Valerie Tripp
    Illustrated by Dan Andreasen and Susan McAliley
       Nellie's Promise is a heartwarming story of trust and friendship set in New York in 1906. It is a companion to the Samantha books which are part of the "American Girl" series. Like Samantha, Nellie is an orphan. Unlike Samantha, Nellie has the responsibility of taking care of her two younger siblings because of a promise she's made to her late mother. The story begins after Nellie and her sisters have been taken in by Samantha's generous Aunt Cornelia and Uncle Gard. However, all is not well. Nellie's closest relative, Uncle Mike, who inherited and abandoned the girls, discovers Nellie and threatens to take custody of them again. This time Uncle Mike says that he will make them work in a factory. Nellie, not wanting Samantha and her family to worry, keeps things to herself. But this secret proves to be a heavy burden, one that threatens her friendship with Samantha and takes her foster parents by surprise. In the end, Uncle Gard and Aunt Cornelia find out about Uncle Mike and adopt Nellie and her sisters officially. This book demonstrates the harsh realities of life that many children have faced in the U.S. While the dialog at times feels forced, this book would be a good addition to a social studies or history class learning about children's rights, social class and immigration issues in the early twentieth century. At the close of the book, a nonfiction section provides more information and photos of actual orphans and working class girls. 2004, Pleasant Company Publications, $6.95. Ages 8 up. Reviewer: Michelle Negron Bueno (Children's Literature).
    ISBN: 1-58485-893-1
    ISBN: 1-58485-890-7

    Our Gracie Aunt
    Jacqueline Woodson
    Illustrations by Jon J. Muth
       Life is not always easy, even for young children. This book addresses the tough issue of child neglect and abandonment with tact and delicacy. Even though Beebee and Johnson can count the number of days their mother has been gone, they are reluctant to open the door for Miss Roy. Miss Roy is persistent, however, and the kids soon realize that she is there to help. Miss Roy has made arrangements for Beebee and Johnson to stay with their Aunt Gracie, or Gracie Aunt as Johnson calls her. Beebee hasn't seen Gracie Aunt since she was very small and Johnson doesn't remember her at all. Their fears are calmed when they discover that Aunt Gracie is a warm and caring person with a big house and an even bigger heart. Although similar situations seldom work out so smoothly in real life, young readers will undoubtedly gain insight and hope from this sad and difficult situation. The soft illustrations add additional warmth to the story. 2002, Jump at the Sun/Hyperion Books, $15.99. Ages 5 to 9. Reviewer: Denise Daley (Children's Literature).

       Johnson and his sister Beebee have become used to managing on their own when their mama disappears for a while. They try to hide from Miss Roy, the social worker, who insists they must go stay with their Aunt Gracie, a stranger to them. Gradually, trust and love grow between them and their aunt, with a beginning of an understanding of why their mother must get help before she can care for them again. This introduction to why some children must be placed in foster care, with hope for both a nurturing foster home and an eventual reunion, informs as it warms the heart. Muth's watercolors enhance the emotional content with sensitive characterizations of all the participants. He provides just enough setting to maintain the visual narrative in a real, nurturing world. 2002, Jump at the Sun/Hyperion Books for Children, $15.99. Ages 5 to 9. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature).

       Woodson's Our Gracie Aunt is a book for older readers. The opening scene introduces young Johnson, his older sister, Beebee, and Miss Roy, a social worker who is worried about how long their mother has been away. Johnson is confused, Beebee fears foster care, but Miss Roy takes them to their Aunt Gracie. There are a lot of emotions packed into a few pages, but Woodson does so gracefully and the characters seem real. Aunt Gracie's life seems unreal to both the children and it appears so to adult readers sharing this book with children. While Johnson and Beebee's urban apartment is stark and bleak, Aunt Gracie has a big house in the country, a large yard and even a tire swing. Gracie's a cookie-baking, tucking-in aunt who wins over even the resistant Beebee. This Woodson book is more obviously a book-for-children-who-need-it, and the overly pretty picture is uncharacteristic for Woodson. Though the book is message-laden, the messages are important, told through character, and well-written. Foster children will be comforted when Aunt Gracie tells the children, "just because a person goes away, doesn't mean they don't love you." And when the children's mama tells them, "Even when a mama loves you, she can't always take care of you. Sometimes she has to go away." Still, Woodson's gift of plumbing the depths shines through. Her characters become round with quick brush-strokes. She shows us Johnson's odd mix of happy guilt, the building and crumbling of Beebee's defensive walls, how these children find comfort in a nurturing they've never before experienced, and the complexities of caring about people. 2002, Hyperion, $15.99. Ages 6 to 10. Reviewer: Susie Wilde (Children's Literature).
    Best Books:

  • The Best Children's Books of the Year, 2003; Bank Street College of Education; United States
  • Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, 2003; National Council for the Social Studies NCSS; United States
  • Teachers' Choices, 2003; International Reading Association; United States
    State and Provincial Reading Lists:
  • Volunteer State Book Award, 2005-2006; Nominee; Primary Division; Tennessee
    Standards of Learning Information
  • Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, 2003; Culture-I; Individual Development and Identity-IV; National Council for the Social Studies NCSS
    ISBN: 0786806206

    Parents Wanted
    George Harrar; illustrations by Dan Murphy
       Twelve-year-old Andy can't seem to escape his biological parents. His father always said it was no big deal to steal, just don't get caught. But, Andy wants to succeed at his new home. He wants to be adopted by Laurie and Jeff and be a part of a real family, but trouble just follows him around like it's his middle name. He still plays mailbox baseball, takes money from a teacher's wallet, refuses to help at chores, and generally is obnoxious. His real dad shows up and wants Andy to steal for him. How can he say no? Then he accuses his adoptive father of abuse. He hopes his adoptive father will get bawled out and have to apologize to him for wrestling with him to get up. He tells the social worker he was touched in the wrong place and he is immediately pulled from the house and sent back to the home for boys. He's really scared he won't be adopted now, and has to plead with the authorities and convince them he was lying. The story is humorous but poignant and Andy gets out of one scrape just to get into another. 2001, Milkweed, $17.95. Ages 11 to 14. Reviewer: Janet L. Rose (Children's Literature).
    Best Books:

  • The Best Children's Books of the Year, 2002; Bank Street College of Education; United States
    Awards, Honors, Prizes:
  • Milkweed Prize for Children's Literature Winner 2001 United States
    ISBN: 1571316337
    ISBN: 1571316329

    Pictures of Hollis Woods
    Patricia Reilly Giff
       Hollis Woods, abandoned as an infant, wants nothing more than to belong to a family. But none of her foster homes in New York work out for her, and so she develops a tough exterior while expressing her sensitive self through her drawings. When she runs from each foster home, no one asks to have her back, except one family--the Regans. Her eleventh summer is spent in upstate New York with a real family, including a mother, a father, and a "brother," all of whom want her to stay on as the longed-for girl. Yet, she leaves them too, feeling responsible for a car accident and for ruining everything. But her one other happy experience with the elderly artist Josie Cahill leads her back to the Regans, as she tries to protect Josie and their relationship. It is in these two homes that her artistic talent is recognized and encouraged. The book slips in and out of Holly's "pictures" of summer with the Regans while it tells the ongoing story of her time with Josie. Burgeoning artists, troubled children and thoughtful ones should find this fictional account meaningful and ultimately comforting. 2002, Wendy Lamb Books/Random House Children's Books, $15.95. Ages 10 to 13. Reviewer: Carol Raker Collins, Ph.D. (Children's Literature).
    Best Books:

  • Best Books for Young Adults, 2003; American Library Association-YALSA; United States
  • The Best Children's Books of the Year, 2003; Bank Street College of Education; United States
  • Capitol Choices, 2002; The Capitol Choices Committee; United States
  • Children's Books on Aging, 2004; ALSC American Library Association; United States
  • Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, Supplement, 2003; H.W. Wilson; United States
  • The Children's Literature Choice List, 2002; Children's Literature; United States
  • Choices, 2003; Cooperative Children's Book Center; United States
  • Great Middle School Reads, 2004; ALSC American Library Association; United States
  • Kirkus Book Review Stars, August 1, 2002; United States
  • Notable Children's Books, 2003; American Library Association-ALSC; United States
  • Middle and Junior High School Library Catalog, Ninth Edition, 2005; H.W. Wilson; United States
  • Middle and Junior High School Library Catalog, Supplement to the Eighth Edition, 2003; H.W. Wilson; United States
  • Teachers' Choices, 2003; International Reading Association; United States
    Awards, Honors, Prizes:
  • Christopher Awards Winner 2003 Ages 10-12 United States
  • John Newbery Medal Honor Book 2003 United States
    State and Provincial Reading Lists:
  • Beehive Award, 2003-2004; Nominee; Children's Fiction Books; Utah
  • Black-Eyed Susan Book Award, 2004-2005; Nominee; Grades 4-6; Maryland
  • Black-Eyed Susan Book Award, 2004-2005; Nominee; Grades 6-9; Maryland
  • Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award Reading List, 2004-2005; Nominee; Grades 4-6; Arkansas
  • Buckeye Children's Book Award, 2004-2005; Nominee; Grades 6-8; Ohio
  • California Young Reader Medal, 2005-2006; Nominee; Middle School; California
  • Charlotte Award, 2004; Nominee; New York
  • Colorado Children's Book Award, 2005; Nominee; Colorado
  • Garden State Children's Book Award, 2005; Nominee; Juvenile Fiction; New Jersey
  • Garden State Teen Book Awards, 2005; Nominee; Fiction Grades 6-8; New Jersey
  • Golden Sower Award, 2004-2005; Nominee; Grades 4-6; Nebraska
  • Great Lakes Great Book Award, 2005; Nominee; Grades 4-5; Michigan
  • Indian Paintbrush Book Award, 2004-2005; Nominee; Grades 4-6; Wyoming
  • Iowa Children's Choice Award, 2004-2005; Nominee; Iowa
  • Iowa Teen Award, 2004-2005; Nominee; Iowa
  • Land of Enchantment Book Award, 2005-2006; Nominee; Young Adult; New Mexico
  • Louisiana Young Readers' Choice Award, 2005; Nominee; Grades 6-8; Louisiana
  • Maine Student Book Award, 2003-2004; Nominee; Maine
  • Mark Twain Award, 2004-2005; Nominee; Grades 4-8; Missouri
  • Massachusetts Children's Book Award, 2004-2005; Nominee; Grades 4-6; Massachusetts
  • Maud Hart Lovelace Award, 2005-2006; Nominee; Grades 3-5; Minnesota
  • Maud Hart Lovelace Award, 2005-2006; Nominee; Grades 6-8; Minnesota
  • The Nene Award, 2004; Nominee; Hawaii
  • Nutmeg Children's Book Award, 2006; Nominee; Grades 4-6; Connecticut
  • Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award, 2004-2005; Nominee; Grades 3-6; Pennsylvania
  • Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award, 2005; Nominee; Illinois
  • Sequoyah Book Award, 2004-2005; Nominee; Children's; Oklahoma
  • South Carolina Junior Book Award, 2004-2005; Nominee; South Carolina
  • Virginia Young Readers Program, 2004-2005; Nominee; Grades 6-9; Virginia
  • Volunteer State Book Award, 2004-2005; Nominee; Grades 4-6; Tennessee
  • William Allen White Children's Book Award, 2004-2005; Nominee; Grades 3-5; Kansas
  • Young Hoosier Book Award, 2004-2005; Nominee; Grades 4-6; Indiana
    ISBN: 0-385-32655-6
    ISBN: 0-385-90070-8

    What I Call Life
    Jill Wolfson.
       Eleven-year-old Cal Lavender had been living her life more or less happily­until one fateful day when her mentally unstable mother has what Cal calls ‘an episode’ in a public library. The librarian’s phone call to the police takes Cal’s mother away in one patrol car, and whisks Cal away in the back of another cruiser to a brand new life in a group home, which houses four other girls from troubled family situations. From the moment she steps through the door, proud, independent Cal insists that none of what happens to her throughout this mistaken detour is part of her ‘real life,’ and that she will be going home to her mother very soon. Meanwhile, as she denies her reality, Cal gradually gets to know her four roommates and their life stories, as well as the Knitting Lady, an elderly woman who shares her knitting skills and kindness with the girls. The stories she tells them about two girls from long ago are set against the present-day stories of her struggling students. These interwoven narratives give readers an idea of what life is like for children and teens who find themselves navigating through the group home/foster parent labyrinth, both in modern times and the past. As readers follow Cal on her journey they learn the emotional costs, as well as the opportunity for cultivating personal strengths, and an appreciation of everyone’s innate worth, regardless of his or her current situation. Well-told and thoughtful, the story unfolds in first person through Cal’s eyes. Just one word of caution: there are some words in the text that may not be suitable for preteens. 2005, Henry Holt and Company, Ages 13 to 18, $16.95. Reviewer: Dianne Ochiltree

       Eleven-year-old Cal Lavender is used to trouble. She blames herself when her mother explodes at the library and they are ushered out by police-Betty to God knows where, and Cal to the foster home called "Pumpkin House." Cal assumes her Face for Unbearably Unpleasant and Embarrassing Situations and prepares to cope, which she does very well; Cal is always in control. Her housemates are special: Amber does not speak, Fern laughs constantly, Monica has a broken arm, and Whitney was born with a defective heart and has become a veteran of so many foster homes that she has lost count. Knitting Lady, their ancient caregiver, entertains them with serial stories about a foster girl. As she teaches them to knit and to understand their feelings, they learn that "different" does not mean "bad," and that imperfect parents can be forgiven. When Betty returns at last, Cal's life does not become typical, and that is just fine. As the Knitting Lady says, "Everyone is always living her story." Wolfson's first novel is a grand-slam homerun. Her wonderfully kooky characters; her fast-paced, witty dialogue; and her realistic depiction of emotional growth in severely damaged children keep the reader laughing and crying on every page. In the fine tradition of Holden Caulfield and Huckleberry Finn, Cal is loveably unforgettable. Somewhere, perhaps inside of every reader, is a child who will be reaffirmed by this exceptional piece of middle school fiction. VOYA CODES: 5Q 5P M J (Hard to imagine it being any better written; Every YA (who reads) was dying to read it yesterday; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9). 2005, Henry Holt, 270p., $16.95. Ages 11 to 15. Reviewer: Laura Woodruff (VOYA, December 2005 (Vol. 28, No. 5))
    Best Books:

  • Booklist Book Review Stars, Nov. 1, 2005; United States
  • Top 10 First Novels for Youth, 2005; American Library Association-Booklist; United States
    State and Provincial Reading Lists:
  • Maine Student Book Award, 2006-2007; Nominee; United States
    ISBN: 0-8050-7669-7
    ISBN: 978-0-8050-7669-1

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    Added 4/25/06