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Almost Home
Author:
Bauer, Joan
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Class:
Fiction
Age: 10-14
Language: English
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LC: PZ7
Grade: 5-9
Print Run: 40000
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ISBN-13: 9780670012893
LCCN: 2011050483
Imprint: Viking
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Pub Date: 09/13/2012
Availability: Out of Print Confirmed
List: $16.99
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Hardcover
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Physical Description:
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264 p. ; 22 cm.
H 8.56",
W 5.76",
D 0.94",
0.85 lbs.
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LC Series:
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Brodart Sources:
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Brodart's For Youth Interest: Popular
Brodart's Insight Catalog: Teen
Brodart's TOP Young Adult Titles
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Bibliographies:
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Children's Core Collection, 22nd ed.
Children's Core Collection, 23rd ed.
Children's Core Collection, 24th ed.
Middle and Junior High Core Collection, 12th ed.
Middle and Junior High Core Collection, 13th ed.
Middle and Junior High Core Collection, 14th ed.
Middle and Junior High Core Collection, 15th ed.
Texas Lone Star Reading List
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Awards:
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Horn Book Guide Titles, Rated 1 - 4
Kirkus Starred Reviews
Library Media Connection Starred Reviews
VOYA's Top Shelf Fiction for Middle Grade Readers
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Starred Reviews:
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Kirkus Reviews
~Library Media Connection (Retired Journal)
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TIPS Subjects:
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Problem Novel
Family Life
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BISAC Subjects: |
JUVENILE FICTION / Family / Parents
JUVENILE FICTION / Family / Orphans & Foster Homes
JUVENILE FICTION / Social Themes / Poverty & Homelessness
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LC Subjects:
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Homeless persons, Fiction
Mothers and daughters, Fiction
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SEARS Subjects: |
Homeless persons, Fiction
Mother-daughter relationship, Fiction
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Reading Programs: |
Accelerated Reader Level:
3.7
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Points: 6.0
Lexile Level:
590
Reading Counts Level:
3.3
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Points: 10.0
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| Annotations |
| Brodart's TOP Young Adult Titles | 09/01/2012 |
| If you run into 12-year-old Sugar, despite the gambling father who abandoned her and her mom, you'll probably see Sugar smiling. When her grandfather dies, Sugar and her mom deal with yet another cruel blow from fate. A move to Chicago sounds scary when Sugar is so used to Missouri. Still, her mother always taught her that life isn't what you get...it's how you use it. 240pp. |
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| Starred Reviews: |
| Kirkus Reviews | 08/01/2012 |
| Through months of homelessness and her mother's breakdown, sixth-grader Sugar Mae Cole and her puppy, Shush, demonstrate what it means to be sweet. Newbery Honor winner Bauer (Hope Was Here, 2000) has created one of her strongest young women yet in the character of Sugar, writer of thank-you notes and poetry, dog-walker, parent-educator and trust-trainer. Her chronological first-person narration works, with notes, emails and poems to document the pain of dealing with an unreliable father, the difficulty of leaving a familiar home and beloved teacher, and the conflicted feelings of a child in a good foster-care situation. Sugar's mother, Reba, has trusted her gambling husband too many times. Can Reba develop the strength to resist him? Luckily, this resilient child has always had the support of other adults: first her grandfather, King Cole; then Mr. B., the sixth-grade teacher who encourages her writing and stays in touch; and, finally, Lexie and Mac, experienced foster parents who provide a safe haven but know when to let go. Sugar's voice is convincing, both as storyteller and young writer; her natural good humor shines through what could be a sad story indeed. Quirky supporting characters--both human and dog--add to its appeal. Sugar, with her natural gift for rubbing down imperfections, will win readers' hearts. (Fiction. 9-13). 240pg. KIRKUS MEDIA LLC, c2012. |
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| ~Library Media Connection (Retired Journal) | 03/01/2013 |
| Grades 5-8. Newbery Honor author Joan Bauer has created a captivating story with a strong female character who will find her way into the hearts of middle school readers. When sixth-grader Sugar Mae Cole and her mother lose their home and are forced to live in shelters and on the streets, Sugar's mother is hospitalized for depression. Sugar is placed with loving foster parents. By reading the inspirational words of her deceased grandfather, Sugar finds the motivation to carry on. With encouragement from her English teacher, Sugar is able to hold onto her dreams by expressing her feelings through her writing. Bauer's engaging plot, rich with interesting and sometimes quirky supporting characters, examines the issues of homelessness, depression, and foster care. Sugar's determination to hold onto her dreams is sure to inspire young girls. This book offers opportunities for rich discussion, making it an inspiring book club pick. Amy Merrill, Reading Specialist and Certified School Librarian, Calvin Coolidge Elementary School, Binghamton, New York (Editor's Note: Available in e-book format.) HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. 240pg. ABC-CLIO, INC., c2013. |
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| Journal Reviews |
| BookPage | 09/01/2012 |
| Ages 10 & up. "I want to paint my whole life over in tangerine." That metaphor is apropos for Sugar Mae Cole, who could use some brightness in her life right about now. She has seen a lot in her 12 years. She has a deadbeat, absentee (and unfortunately reappearing) father--Mr. Leeland, who promises much more than he delivers. And her mother, Reba, keeps believing he'll keep his word, someday, and that they'll become a family. When hard times hit, Sugar and Reba are left homeless and must head to a shelter. When Reba can't find work, clinical depression sets in--and Sugar is sent to foster care while Reba undergoes treatment. Thanks to her strong wit and will, her love of writing (inspired by her favorite teacher Mr. B) and her cuddly canine companion Shush, Sugar quickly sets forth on her own quest to find the meaning of "home." Is it a place? A person? A feeling? Newbery Honor-winner Bauer (Hope Was Here) masterfully crafts a well-paced story with realistically drawn characters. The narrative is full of details (Salvation Army shirts, scamming for free dog food and painting her neighbor's door bright purple) that vibrantly illuminate Sugar's new world--one in which she learns how to trust, how to make friends and how to bring her mother a "sweeter" life. While it may be clich to say "home is where the heart is," Bauer takes that phrase and eloquently illustrates it. Her skill in bringing Sugar and Reba to life creates a gentle tale of hope, of heart and of a heroine simply not willing to give up searching for her place in the world. Sharon Verbeten. 240pg. BOOKPAGE, c2012. |
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| Booklist | 08/01/2012 |
| Grades 5-8. Meet sixth-grader Sugar Mae Cole, who has learned from her grandfather that sometimes a kid has to act older than she is. Even the ebullient Sugar finds that hard to do, though, after she and her mom Reba lose their house, move to Chicago for a job that doesn't materialize, and end up in a shelter. Severe depression hospitalizes Reba, and Sugar is placed in foster care. Clinging desperately to her puppy, Sugar wonders "if God is paying attention" and observes that being poor is "always heavy on you, like wearing a winter coat in the summer." Like many of Bauer's plucky heroines, Sugar isn't down for long, and with the help of many caring adults, Sugar and her mom begin to rebuild their lives. Sugar's poems and thank-you letters effectively reveal the everyday fears and humiliations suffered by homeless children, and Sugar's determination to keep her pet is especially touching. Bauer's trademark humor lightens the serious subject matter, while Sugar's frank honesty will give young readers a glimpse at a situation affecting a growing number of children. Rutan, Lynn. 240p. AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, c2012. |
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| Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books | 10/01/2012 |
| R. Gr. 5-8. Sad family circumstances and eviction from their home send sixth-grader Sugar Mae Cole and her mother, Reba, to Chicago, where Reba has a lead on a cleaning job ("I can clean up anybody's mess except my own," says Reba). The lead proves fruitless and their first night in Chicago, Reba experiences a "severe depressive incident" and ends up in a mental hospital. After a few nights in a group hope, Sugar is placed into foster care with a couple named Lexie and Mac, a placement that proves to be her salvation in the end as she and her mother together begin to take steps towards rebuilding their lives. Sugar is a remarkable character, and her development is fully realized in this complex story of survival; she is gracious, grateful, persuasive, honest, and far stronger than she realizes. Accompanying her on her journey is Shush, a puppy who came to her by accident but who proves to be a formidable force in her recovery. A plethora of quirky side characters (most notably Mr. B, her teacher back in Missouri, with whom she keeps up an email correspondence) and writing formats (the narrative is punctuated with a cross-section of Sugar's writing, from poetry to letters) drive the novel. While Bauer fans will definitely want to get their paws on this one, there's plenty of realism here to draw a wider crowd. HM. 240p. THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIV. OF ILLINOIS, c2012. |
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| Horn Book | 09/01/2012 |
| Intermediate. Like so many of Bauer's endearing heroines, Sugar is a girl with a good head on her shoulders, which she needs in order to face a world in which the adults can be so unreliable. Her mother Reba can't resist the persuasions of Sugar's gambling father, whom Sugar refers to as Mr. Leeland: "Is she kidding? Trusting Mr. Leeland to pay back money was like trusting a dog to watch your food." When the worst happens and they are evicted from their house, Sugar moves through a series of uncomfortable living situations, finally ending up in a foster home where she finds the space she needs to deal with her "broken places." Sugar's wise, often tart observations on how people treat the poor and homeless come organically from her character, and her mixture of distrust and longing for connection rings true. With its cover showing Sugar holding an adorable puppy in her arms, this novel will sell itself. Susan Dove Lempke. 265pg. THE HORN BOOK, c2012. |
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| Horn Book Guide | 05/01/2013 |
| 2. Because Sugar's mother can't resist the persuasions of Sugar's gambling father, the worst happens and they're evicted from their house. Sugar eventually ends up in a foster home where she finds space to deal with her "broken places." Sugar's observations on how people treat the poor and homeless come organically from her character; her mixture of distrust and longing for connection rings true. sdl. 265pg. THE HORN BOOK, c2013. |
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| Publishers Weekly | 08/06/2012 |
| Ages 10-up. Twelve-year-old Sugar Mae Cole has had to act older than her age ever since her beloved grandfather died, and her father abandoned Sugar and her mother, Reba, yet again. But when they lose their house, Sugar must summon additional strength as she and Reba face homelessness. "Before all this happened/ I wasn't brave like I am now./ I didn't know I could take care of my mother/ or pee by the side of the road/ and not get my underpants wet," writes Sugar, a talented poet. She relies on her poetry, along with support from a loving foster family and a favorite teacher, when the stress of their circumstances drives Reba to a serious breakdown. Bauer (Close to Famous) explores a timely issue through the eyes of a resilient girl--the kind of heroine so familiar to Bauer's fans. Sugar's anger, fear, humility, and resolve are portrayed with insight and compassion. Bauer also brings moments of levity and hopefulness to the story, which she peppers with a cast of thoughtfully crafted personalities. Agent: George Nicholson, Sterling Lord Literistic. (Sept.). 272p. PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, c2012. |
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| School Library Journal | 10/01/2012 |
| Gr 5-8--When Sugar Mae Cole is given a small, discarded puppy named Shush, she decides that he will become a helper dog. And help he does throughout her ordeal of losing her house, her mom's spiraling depression, moving from a small Missouri town to Chicago, and living in foster care. Sugar appreciates the importance of writing, which she learned from Mr. Bennett, her slightly eccentric but astute and talented sixth-grade teacher and from her mom, who has always emphasized the importance of writing thank-you notes. Her narration effectively includes her poetry, emails, thank-you notes, and reflections to reveal a resilient, thoughtful girl. As her name suggests, she tries to bring "a little sweetness into people's lives... [but, she knows] sweet doesn't mean stupid." Her philosophy, that if one "looks hard enough, there's always something to be grateful for," is especially hard to abide after her grandfather dies and her father takes off again, leaving a huge gambling debt. The conclusion is hopeful and satisfying. Though Sugar is still in a foster home, she and Shush become catalysts that empower Reba to stand up to her twice-ex-husband, help friends revitalize a business, and more. In her correspondence with Mr. Bennett, Sugar begins to feel ready to start a new life in seventh grade. Told with humor and pathos, the narrative is full of quirky, likable characters, all of whom are three-dimensional. Sugar's writing is sophisticated and touching, appropriate for a child who is thrust into an adult role. Altogether, a memorable novel that is sure to have broad appeal.--Maria B. Salvadore, formerly at District of Columbia Public Library. 266p. SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL, c2012. |
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9780670012893,dl.it[0].title
| Review Citations |
| New York Times Book Review | 09/16/2012 |
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