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After her father's death from cancer, Vinnie's mother moves with her and her little brother, to her grandmother's house. A move Vinnie isn't happy about at all. Her brother Mason hasn't spoken a word since the night of their father's funeral, and he causes some trouble at school. Vinnie has trouble making friends, but Lupe, an odd, individualistic loner, becomes her sort-of friend. She also develops a crush on her super nice male teacher.
True to form with Katherine Patterson, Vinnie is exceptionally well portrayed, and filled with sadness. A short fine story of coping with the loss of a parent, and being responsible and honest when it is hard to do so. ( )

Another wise and heart-warming story from the author of Bridge to Terabithia. ( )

Another Katherine Paterson book made me cry. I was overdue. ( )

This is a very sad story about a young girl learnig how to cope with the death of her father and feeling left out of life. At the end of the story she has an improved relationship and understanding with her little brother and friends.

I really like this story. My best friend who just graduated from Cameron this last year told me about this book she just lost her dad two years ago and said this was a really good book. I really hits base on some of the true emotions she went through eventhough she was a little older when it happened to her.

I would have the students draw a picture of how the would visualize what Vinnie, Mason, or Lupe looked like. And then draw a picture and write a little story about how their pictures relate to the story. ( )