
Reach for this book if your child is grappling with the uncertainty of a family transition or feeling like an outsider in their own home. It is a deeply compassionate choice for preteens who are navigating the complex emotions of foster care, kinship care, or separation from parents due to substance use and recovery. The story follows Laura, a young girl placed with an estranged aunt while her parents are in rehab. Writing in verse, Arango captures the raw, quiet moments of displacement and the surprising way a connection with a stray puppy can provide the first sense of stability. It validates the 'messy' feelings of missing a parent who has caused pain, while offering a hopeful path toward building a new kind of family. It is an essential read for building empathy and understanding the invisible burdens many children carry.
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Sign in to write a reviewDiscussion of parents being in rehab; no active drug use is depicted.
Situations involving a stray dog in potential danger or being hidden.
The book handles parental substance abuse and the foster system with a direct, realistic lens. It is secular in its approach. The resolution is not a 'happily ever after' where the parents are cured and the family reunites immediately; instead, it is a hopeful, realistic 'middle ground' where Laura finds safety and emotional growth despite the ongoing family struggle.
A 10 to 14 year old who feels misunderstood or 'in-between' during a family crisis. It is perfect for a child who uses animals as a primary emotional outlet or those in the foster/kinship system needing to see their specific grief reflected.
Parents should be prepared for honest depictions of the frustration children feel toward the adults in their lives. The scene where Laura realizes her parents aren't ready to come home yet is emotionally taxing and may require a hug or a conversation. A parent might see their child withdrawing, acting out of a sense of 'not belonging,' or expressing extreme frustration that life isn't 'normal' compared to their peers.
Younger middle grade readers will focus on the dog and the 'secret' element, while older readers will deeply resonate with the nuanced critique of the child welfare system and the complex feelings of loyalty versus self-preservation.
Unlike many 'dog books' or 'foster books,' this is written in verse, which allows for a high emotional impact with accessible, sparse language that doesn't overwhelm the reader with exposition.
Laura is placed into kinship care with her Titi Silvia after her parents enter a residential treatment facility for drug addiction. Feeling like a guest in a stranger's house, Laura finds a stray dog she names Sparrow. She hides the dog, creating a secret world of responsibility and affection that grounds her. The narrative tracks her journey from resentment and isolation to a tentative acceptance of her new reality and the people trying to love her.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.