by Joan Bauer
First published 2012
Sugar's world collapses when her grandfather dies and her gambling father disappears again. At twelve, she watches their Missouri home slip away. Her mother packs what they can carry and points them toward Chicago, hoping the city will offer better chances. But Chicago streets prove harsh for people with nowhere to sleep. Sugar's mother raised her to find gratitude even in dark moments, so Sugar tries to stay positive. A rescue dog named Shush becomes her companion. A foster family opens their door. A teacher believes in her potential. Poetry gives her words when speaking feels impossible. Through small acts of kindness and her own determination, Sugar learns she cannot choose what happens to her. She can only choose how she meets each challenge. Her grace and humor become her strongest tools as she discovers what home really means.
Genres: fiction, family-life, contemporary, realistic-fiction
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, resilience
Setting: Chicago, Missouri
Period: 20th-century
240 pages · Hardcover · Viking Juvenile