Danielle Svetcov

On the one hand, this is a lovely story about a struggling family creating community and finding a way out of temporary homelessness. There's a lot of sweet details to like -- from the concerned Chicago librarians to the Bay Area's food culture, to the quirky and endearing characters. I really enjoyed it.

However. And it's a big however -- this is a very white book. It's also a feel-good story about homelessness, and as someone who has worked with people experiencing homelessness on a regular basis, I find it a little too candy-coated. I see the value in a gentle story that starts to talk to kids about what living in your van might be like, and that advocates for not being jerks to the homeless who camp in your neighborhood. I'm just not sure that if I handed this to a kid, especially a kid of color, who was experiencing homelessness, if they could relate to this story or if they would just find it upsettlingly untrue, and wonder why their neighbors haven't banded together to get them a home and their parents a job. I think about How to Steal a Dog or Crenshaw, which also inhabit this gentle space, and this book just feels like a little more of a miss than a hit.

Props for taking on the topic of cities behaving in a financially punitive manner to their camping residents, and for calling attention to the extreme housing gaps in San Francisco and other west coast cities.

Advanced Readers' Copy provided by Edelweiss.… (mehr)

Jeanne Ann and Cal both struggle in different ways. Jeanne Ann is living in a van with her mother, wondering when they will have a real home. Cal lives in a well to do home, but is struggling with his relationship with mom and his responsibilities. Both are beginning 7th grade soon. Jeanne Ann is not sure how she will be able to register without a home address. Cal wants to help.
Cal’s desire to help is not new, but Jeanne Ann does not want to ask for help. What will the future hold for mom, Jeanne Ann and Cal?


Excellent middle grade novel focusing on friendship, empathy, and optimism. Love Jeanne Ann and Cal’s characters! Will be an excellent addition to literature circles!
… (mehr)