Vinnie is trying to adjust to life after her father's passing. She, her mother, and her brother must move to their grandmother's home across the country. As she starts life in a new school and a new environment, Vinnie also finds herself responsible for her brother, who refuses to speak and is suffering from behavior problems. Vinnie really needs someone that understands what she's going through, but can she look past rumors and see people for who they really are? Katherine Paterson has created a thought-provoking, beautiful story.

its terrible!!!!!!!!!! to me it was the most boring book on earth!

Paterson is indeed brilliant. She gets that kids aren't always angelic, and that parents aren't perfect either, even when a family isn't dysfunctional. Mistakes are made. Naughty impulses are acted upon. Mistakes are made. And yet, somehow, by the end, there's real hope for healing.

Still, it's such a struggle to get there, and there is some weak characterization sometimes, and the unreliable narrator drove me nuts (is Grandma that difficult, or is Vinnie whiny, for example)... well, I just did not enjoy reading this, or feel enlightened, as I have done with other books by the author.

I am not surprised to see that the reviews are polarized. If a reader knows someone like Vinnie, or feels empathy for her, s/he'll probably like this a lot. Others will not like or respect the characters, and not like the book.

I recommend it for Paterson completists, maybe others who feel like most tween fiction is unrealistic.

This novel tells the story of nine year old Vinnie and her five year brother Mason, and how they deal with the death of their father to cancer. Vinnie is filled with hate, anger and grief, and Mason has chosen elective mutism. It isn't until they both encounter Vinnie's classmate Lupe, that they are able to face their individual grief, and overcome their deep seated issues.

I read this book in 3rd or 5th grade. It was the first book I could picture in my mind. A very good book.

Powerful message. I really enjoyed reading this book.

My 10 year old daughter picked this book out for me because we wear flip flops quite a bit.