From the Bookshelf of Mock Newbery 2026

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What Members Thought

The Reading Countess
Wow. What a beautiful book for middle grade readers. Difficult topics are covered in a sensitive manner: homelessness, alcohalism, infant mortality...Such big lessons for little readers. I also liked how the characters were so complex. The complexity of many of them can be really explored through a read aloud.

Harper is a writer. How can she not be with a name like HARPER LEE? Her mother works tirelessly cleaning houses, trying to keep Harper and her brother Hem (short for Hemingway), together si
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Sandy
For those who enjoyed the emotional ride in books such as Love Aubrey or Waiting for Normal, this might be a nice read-alike. This is less of a story of a homeless family and more of a look at their grief, how it has left them in a desperate situation, and what Harper does to try to deal with it and turn things around.

A solid debut novel.
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Jennifer
Dec 27, 2009 rated it it was amazing  ·  review of another edition
A wonderful book! Leal really gives an intimate look at a girl who seems to have lost everything. Living in a motel with all your belongings piled up at the side of the room is bad, but seeing your favorite daisy stickered dresser sold at a yard sale is worse. You can't help but empathize with Harper. Harper's role as caretaker to her little brother Hemingway and sometimes her mother, rings painfully true. Harper loves writing poetry and wishes to share her gift at her school's competititon. Whe ...more
Lorelie
Good story. You could feel Harper's pain as she wanted so much to go to school but had to stay home and watch her brother. A bit predictable, but glad to see a good ending. ...more
Malissa
Jan 28, 2010 rated it really liked it  ·  review of another edition
Shelves: fiction-kids
Donna
Feb 01, 2010 marked it as to-read  ·  review of another edition
Emily David
May 05, 2012 rated it really liked it  ·  review of another edition
Shelves: obob, middle-grades
Amy
Apr 25, 2015 marked it as to-read  ·  review of another edition
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