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Why it matters
It balances abandonment fears with humor, community, and resilience.
2007 selection · Young readers
A resourceful girl in a tiny desert town searches for stability and her own idea of a higher power.
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It balances abandonment fears with humor, community, and resilience.
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You enjoy quirky, hopeful found-family stories.
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Primary record
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John Newbery Medal — official winner recordOfficial record↗ (opens in a new tab)