I loved the stories in The Turning Place and wanted more juvenile SF. ?áThis is a bit of SF, but mostly a story of how a girl is so afraid of foster care that she goes through some pretty risky adventures to avoid it. ?áFortunately she's smarter than many kids in 'issues' books, more on the ball, and a better role model for young readers:

At first she thought maybe she wouldn't do any of her homework. ?áIf she had nothing to hand in tomorrow, it might please Rosella. ?áBut on the other hand, that would be giving in. ?áAnd she was angry, in spite of being scared.... Why should Rosella or anyone else decide for her what she would or would not do."

(note that at least two of the bullies are girls - yay for gender equality, I guess)

And here's good advice about the value of the subconscious, articulated better than I've ever seen before:

"Get your thoughts away from the situation. ?áMaybe then your mind will show you new tings, things your fear now hides from you."" ( )

This book works on many levels. The child abuse/survival angle will strike a chord with many YA readers, and the science fiction angle is introduced so gradually it will draw in the readers who think they don't like scifi. The ending is sad, but hopeful and satisfying. I HAD to buy a copy of this book. Otherwise I was going to have to weed it from our library just so I could have it. A practice that is frowned upon. ( )