ABANDONED. YA Book about a girl who works as a servant in a nursing home?

[Morgan]

Ok so I read this book when I was in about 4th maybe 5th grade so it was most likely published early 2000. All I remember is this young girl being taken to this old house, where there were a bunch of old people. She had long blonde hair and this woman cut it really short, and put her to work in the kitchen. She meets another young girl, and they eat nasty soup. Throughout the novel, she works as a servant to this nursing home and meets a boy? Honestly that's all I can remember. If someone has any clue, please tell me! Thanks :D

[Abigail]

Your description makes me think of Peppermints in the Parlor, by Barbara Brooks Wallace.

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Morgan, are you still looking for this book? Was it Peppermints in the Parlor?

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

No response from Morgan, moving to Abandoned.