After Ivy's stepfather disappears, Ivy's mama begins waitressing at Dining Divinely to make ends meet. She also takes in a boarder—twelve-year-old Caleb, who's the same age as Ivy and is the weirdest guy she's ever met. With Mama working full-time, Ivy has to babysit her little brother, JJ. She also has to fend off the nosy Pastor Harold; stop Caleb from filling JJ's head with lies; and keep her best friend, Ellen, from knowing anything about her embarrassing situation at home. Ivy has always found out all she needs to know by lurking in the shadows (some might call it "eavesdropping"). But as things at home become more complicated, she learns to step into the light and not only listen but speak up.

From the spring day in 1962 when Willis Merrill and his pet raccoon arrive in Maywood, Indiana, they are nothing but trouble for Lydia Carson. Lydia nicknames Willis "Ratboy" and wonders why he can't be more like his handsome older brother, Elliot. Life gets more complicated when Lydia alienates Elliot by insulting Willis and comes to a standoff with her mother. In her struggle to make amends with all, Lydia finds an ally in Willis and discovers the good in herself.In her sharp, fresh voice, the author captures the flavor of a small town in Middle America and the hearts of its populace as she tells a powerful story about the resiliency - and flexibility -of family.

Georgie Collins knows exactly how to make it through life ina new town. Before her father left for Vietnam, he gave herstanding orders never to let anyone mess with her, and shewon't. As long as she doesn't allow the enemy to smell her fear,Georgie will survive seventh grade in Glendale, Indiana, justfine. But that doesn't mean she'll like it. How could she? Herschool has forced her to participate in a "Good DeedsProgram," so she's stuck visiting old people in a nursing home.What's more, her classes are filled with "peacenik" kids whothink the war is wrong - including her only friend. At home,it seems that the kids her mom is babysitting are constantlywhining at her. Worst of all, Georgie's father has been gone along time - and even though he promised to send her his loveevery night on the moon, sometimes that's not enough.This story of a feisty girl's fierce devotion to her father is a powerful reflection on the...