by Cynthia Lord
First published 2014
Suzannah dreams of having her own pet, but her apartment building forbids animals completely. She decides to volunteer at the nearby pet shelter instead. Even though she's younger than the other volunteers, Suzannah quickly connects with both the kids and the animals there. She crafts toys and treats for the shelter pets. She feeds cats and plays with energetic puppies. Her days at the shelter fill the gap left by not having a pet at home. Then another girl her age arrives with a guinea pig called Jelly Bean that needs to be surrendered. Suzannah looks at the small animal and makes a heartfelt promise to find Jelly Bean the perfect family. But as days pass, she worries that potential adopters might overlook an abandoned guinea pig. Suzannah must figure out how to keep her word to Jelly Bean while learning what it truly means to care for animals in need.
Genres: animals, family-life, contemporary
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking, whimsical
Tropes: found-family, heartwarming
Setting: Apartment, Pet Shelter
128 pages · Paperback · Scholastic