A popular theme in middle grade fiction right now is "children parenting the parents" or, in more detail, "child from a dysfunctional family ends up in a new, loving family temporarily due to a parent's poor decisions." If the characters are well-developed, readers fall in love with the child and root for them as they try to navigate this tricky situation. In all three of these books, the children are separated from their parents as the parents try to get back on their feet for different reasons. All of the parents have made many bad choices, and this is usually revealed slowly to the reader through the course of the first half of the book. As the story unfolds, the constant underlying tension is...."Will the child stay in their "new" (temporary) home, or will they return to their parent? And will the situation be any better for him/her?"
I truly loved all three of these books. They are somewhat predictable to adults, but most children will be surprised by some of the twists and turns. These would all make excellent read-alouds.
One for the Murphys by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
Recommended age: 4th grade and up
Carly has had a rough life with a mom who often makes bad choices when it comes to men. She has a cynical outlook and has put up emotional walls to protect herself from the hard knocks of life. When she ends up in foster care with the Murphys, she finds a family where these walls are not necessary and a foster mom who won't give up on her.
Almost Home by Joan Bauer
Recommended age: 5th grade and up
Sugar's life has always revolved around her mom, her grandfather, and school. She has connected with her teacher this year, and her writing is starting to blossom. But after her grandfather dies and her gambler father offers no financial help yet again, Sugar and her mom suddenly find themselves homeless along with their brand new puppy, who has also had a rough start in life. Sugar continues to write to her teacher periodically as they scrape money together to move to Chicago, but the move proves to be catastrophic for her mom when it's just one more opportunity for life to kick her when she's down.
Freaky Fast Frankie Joe by Lutricia Clifton
(2013-2014 Bluebonnet Book)
Recommended age: 4th and up
When twelve-year-old Frankie Joe's mom ends up in jail, he is sent to live with the father he has never met. He is not happy to leave his small South Texas trailer park and friends. When he gets to his new home in Illinois, he finds that his father has a beautiful family that he has never heard about. He is determined not to like his 4 new stepbrothers, and the eldest stepbrother is not happy to now be second oldest. Frankie Joe decides that if his dad won't take him back to Texas, he'll figure out a way to get back on his own. He starts a pizza delivery business, but he can't help but begin to make friends as he interacts with his new customers. Slowly, he starts to like his dad's family and his new home in spite of himself. But his mom's release date is looming - what will happen to Frankie Joe?
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