Almost Home

Sugar Mae Cole moves with her mother to Chicago after they lose their home in Missouri. Their fresh start is complicated by her mother's struggle with depression and their precarious financial situation. A gifted writer, Sugar processes her experiences through poetry and letters while being supported by her teacher, Mr. B, who recognizes her talent. Her rescue dog Shush becomes a source of stability as Sugar navigates life in a shelter and the challenges of starting over at a new school. The story focuses on resilience, hope and finding one's voice amid difficult circumstances. Sugar's journey reveals how creativity and connection can help young people face upheaval while staying true to themselves.

Readers connect with the main character Sugar's resilience and determination despite difficult circumstances. Multiple reviews mention the authentic portrayal of homelessness and poverty through a child's perspective. Readers appreciated: - Realistic handling of serious topics for middle-grade audiences - Sugar's relationship with her rescue dog - Integration of poetry throughout the story - Supporting characters who help Sugar Common criticisms: - Some found the ending too neat/unrealistic - A few reviewers felt the poetry segments interrupted the flow - Several noted the story moves slowly in parts Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (4,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (180+ ratings) Common Sense Media: 4/5 (parent reviews) "Sugar's voice rings true on every page" appears in multiple reader reviews. Parents frequently note the book helps children understand homelessness with sensitivity. One teacher reported the book "sparked important classroom discussions about poverty and perseverance."

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🌟 Joan Bauer wrote Almost Home after visiting homeless shelters and interviewing young people who faced housing insecurity, bringing authenticity to Sugar Mae's story. 🎵 The protagonist's love of songwriting was inspired by Bauer's own daughter, who wrote songs as a young teen to express her feelings. 🏆 Almost Home received the American Library Association's Schneider Family Book Award, which recognizes books that embody the disability experience. 🐾 The character of Shush, Sugar's rescue dog, was based on a real shelter dog that Bauer met during her research for the book. 🎨 The cover art went through several iterations before settling on the final version featuring a girl and her dog, as the publisher wanted to capture both hope and hardship in a single image.