Sugar Mae Cole's life is not all about happy endings and easy paths. Her father is distant, going back in forth in and out of her life while gambling in his extra time. Her grandfather, King Cole, has just died and without him, she doesn't have a strong hero. Her mother at first is okay, but when she and Sugar lose their home and head to Chicago, she starts to break down. Sugar learns, with the help of her dog Shush, that new beginnings are not always easy and she must take them in stride positively. Sugar also learns that she is in the world for a good reason - to put a little sweetness in people's lives. I recommend this book and would give it 4 stars
Almost Home
By Joan Bauer
| Interest Level | Reading Level | Reading A-Z | ATOS | Word Count |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grades 4 - 8 | Grades 2 - 8 | W | 3.7 | 43003 |
Newbery Honor winner Joan Bauer's new novel will touch your heart
When twelve-year-old Sugar's grandfather dies and her gambling father takes off yet again, Sugar and her mother lose their home in Missouri. They head to Chicago for a fresh start, only to discover that fresh starts aren't so easy to come by for the homeless. Nevertheless, Sugar's mother has taught her to be grateful no matter what, so Sugar does her best. With the help of a rescue dog, Shush; a foster family; a supportive teacher; a love of poetry; and her own grace and good humor, Sugar comes to understand that while she can't control the hand life deals her, she can control how she responds.
When twelve-year-old Sugar's grandfather dies and her gambling father takes off yet again, Sugar and her mother lose their home in Missouri. They head to Chicago for a fresh start, only to discover that fresh starts aren't so easy to come by for the homeless. Nevertheless, Sugar's mother has taught her to be grateful no matter what, so Sugar does her best. With the help of a rescue dog, Shush; a foster family; a supportive teacher; a love of poetry; and her own grace and good humor, Sugar comes to understand that while she can't control the hand life deals her, she can control how she responds.
Publisher: Puffin Books
ISBN-13: 9780142427484
ISBN-10: 0142427489
Published on 8/29/2013
Binding: Paperback
Number of pages: 288
Book Reviews (46)
This book is so good and kind of sad too.
![Sarah](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 12 12"%3E%3C/svg%3E)
So cute
This is a really sweet book.
i want to read it
I loved this book so so so so so so so much!!!!!!!!!!!! It is a great realistic fiction story!!! It is about a girl named sugar who lives in a house with her mom. Her dad has made promises that he couldn't keep and comes and leaves a lot. Then, a man came to their house and said that they don't have enough money to keep the house. The money they need is with sugars dad. After that they go to a shelter, move to chicago, and then sugars mom ( who's named Reba ) has to go to the hospital over a stress thing. Sugar stays with Lexie and Mac while her mom is at the hospital because thats the people who take kids in. Then her dad comes back, leaves again, and he's gone forever. I think the message in this story is ''Believe in yourself''. My favorite character in this story is Sugar because she never gave up. In the story, my favorite part was when Reba got a job at a chocolate store. If I had been the author I would have ended it so Reba and Sugar lived together in the end, but I wasn't the author. I hope you like it!!!!!!!!!
Great Joan Bauer. This is OK for teens and kids alike(Expect (Spoiler Alert) the part in the end where Sugar's dad comes in drunk)
It is a book I would sit anywhere and read it forever!
i just looked at the cover and the puppy was so cute and i was like it is so cute i think i should put it with my other books so i did then i got this one book that was cute to
Sugar (the main character in this book) has never had an easy life. She was born in the back of a Chevy and had a dad who was never around. He was always telling Sugar's mom Reba that he'd be there for her, but he never was. Sugar knew they had never been rich, but never thought that what was happening right now was possible. She was getting kicked out of her home. Her dad ( Mr. Leeland) had failed to find the money to pay the rent on their house. Sugar was going to have to move from Missouri to Chicago. She had to leave her school and all her friends. She was especially going to miss her English teacher, Mr. B. She was constantly writing poems about her life that Mr. B loved. He was SO encouraging and Sugar promised to keep e-mailing him her poems. Chicago was not working out so great. Reba and Sugar were on the streets until someone found Reba and put her into a hospital for the insane. She was suffering severe depression. Sugar was forced to live with a foster family and she liked it but couldn't stop thinking about Reba. She couldn't help wondering, would they ever get back on their feet without Mr. Leeland?