And Then Boom by Lisa Fipps

 

And Then Boom!  By Lisa Fipps  244 pages

Joe Oak is used to living on unsteady ground. His mom can't be depended on as she never stays around long once she gets “the itch,” and now he and his beloved grandmother find themselves without a home. Fortunately, Joe has an outlet in his journals and drawings and takes comfort from the lessons of comic books -- superheroes have a lot of “and then, boom” moments, where everything threatens to go bust but somehow they land on their feet. And that seems to happen a lot to Joe too, as in this crisis his friend Nick helps them find a home in his trailer park. But things fall apart again when Joe is suddenly left to fend for himself. He doesn't tell anyone he's on his own, as he fears foster care and has hope his mom will come back. But time is running out -- bills are piling up, the electricity's been shut off, and the school year's about to end, meaning no more free meals. The struggle to feed himself gets intense, and Joe finds himself dumpster diving for meals. He's never felt so alone -- until an emaciated little dog and her two tiny pups cross his path. And fate has even more in store for Joe, because an actual tornado is about to hit home -- and just when it seems all is lost, his life turns in a direction that he never could have predicted.

Written in verse so I finished this in one day.  Very sad story about a boy who is abandoned by his mother and ends up living on his own trying to survive. 

How to Stay Invisible by Maggie Rudd

How to Stay Invisible   by Maggie Rudd  230 Pages

Twelve-year-old Raymond Hurley has never had a place to call home. His freewheeling parents move their family from town to town, and they're living in a trailer in a brand-new state when one day they just up and abandon him. All alone with nothing but a duffel bag full of clothes and Rosie, his reliable pup, Raymond is forced to live in the woods behind his middle school. With a fishing pole in hand and a survival guide checked out from the library, Raymond scrapes by and doesn't tell anyone his secret. This isn't the first time he's had only himself to rely on. However, when winter days get colder and finding food becomes nearly impossible, Raymond makes new friends, including a curious coyote, in unexpected places. Soon he learns that his fate will depend on not just his wilderness skills, but also on the people and animals he chooses to trust. In her heartfelt debut novel, Maggie C. Rudd takes readers on a journey of survival that speaks to friendship, adventure, and the everyday wonders of nature. In middle school, blending in is easy, but sometimes the braver thing is being seen.

I read this because it is a Mark Twain nominee.  It was very sad but a reality for some children.  I am not sure children will understand the depth of the tragedy, and would think it is an adventure story.  I did not like the ending.  They introduced all of these different characters and then he didn't even get to go live with any of them...sorry spoiler!  It was a good book, but I definitely would want a different ending!

The Boy on the Porch by Sharon Creech

The Boy on the Porch by Sharon Creech - 151 pages

Marta and John discover a young boy on their porch one morning.  The boy seems to be about six years old.  He came with a note asking them to take care of him until he can be picked back up.  Marta and John quickly grow to love Jacob even though he doesn't talk.  He likes to paint, play music, and the farm animals.  But they always have the question in the back of their minds -- who is the boy?

This was a great book!  Although very quick to read it packed a huge emotional wallop.  I actually found myself crying a couple times throughout the story.  This is a wonderful story of how you create your own family and how sometimes those families must end even though nobody wants them to.