First published 1992
Janet treasures the silver pencil her father gave her, knowing how much she loved to write. He believed it would bring her good fortune. When her father dies, Janet must leave her West Indies home behind. The pencil becomes her most precious possession, linking her to her father's memory and his faith in her storytelling gifts. She carries it with her as she journeys across different places, searching for where she belongs. The pencil reminds her that her father saw something special in her writing, even when everything else in her life changes. Through her travels, Janet holds onto this connection to his love and encouragement. Eventually her journey leads her to New York, where she discovers her true home. The silver pencil remains with her, a symbol of her father's enduring belief in her talent and the stories she was meant to tell.
Genres: family-life, historical-fiction, 20th-century, coming-of-age
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, search-for-identity
Setting: New York, West Indies
Period: 20th-century
235 pages · Paperback · Scholastic INC.