My boys absolutely loved this heartfelt story by Linda MacKillop. It tackles heavy topics such as homelessness, PTSD, and bullying with skill and grace. It’s a sensitive way to introduce middle grade readers to topics you might be wanting to discuss further as a family and this book really gets the conversation started for you!

Sierra Marshall longs for the fulfillment of God's Promise: that she and her ex-soldier mother, Lori, have a forever home with a vegetable garden for Sierra to hone her cooking skills. Evicted once again from their dingy apartment, Sierra and Lori find their way to a shelter run by the kindly, African-American Goodwins, an ex-army couple. Despite school bullying and anxiety, sixth grader Sierra finds a home and friendship with the Goodwins; but her mom, troubled by PTSD and addiction, cannot settle. When Sierra finds herself in the middle of a brawl with bully Ray, she has to serve detention. Her friend India's mother's artwork --using broken pieces of crockery and plates to become art--gives Sierra a plan that may help the bullies learn some compassion. Detention is being held at the shelter, and Sierra's plan is ready to be put in place, when the bottom falls out of her world. This work of Christian literature provides readers with a window into poverty, homelessness, and PTSD.

*4.5
I went into this Middle Grade pretty blind, but I absolutely loved it. My heart went out to Sierra from the first page, as she tries to hold everything in, make friends at school, be a good girl in their new Home, and care for her mom all at the same time. The Goodwins are classic parental figures to Sierra and even her mother, creating an environment of structure and discipline, but most importantly, stability and safety. All too often, our vets don't get the support or treatment they need and this book showed one way that the consequences could evolve into. This book also touches on racism in the history of America. I would have personally liked a bit more resolution at the end, but reality is not always resolved and I appreciated that.

Some beautiful non-spoiler quotes:
" How do you stop being mad about that?" I say, wringing my handlebars like I'm squeezing someone's neck.
"I focus on what I can do to help people. Takes my mind off the mad on many days. I've been given a little area in the corner of the city the size of an old school I can care for all the people who cross our doorstep, even if I can't care for everyone in the whole city."

"Yes, God should keep His promises. And He always does keep His Promises. If it's from Him, you just haven't seen it come true yet," he says. "Some Promises take a long time to show up, 'darlin," he says. "You keep waiting and watching. Don't give up. And in the meantime, you be brave, girl.... Just remember, Sierra, that our enemies aren't always covered in flesh and bone. Sometimes our enemies are even inside of us."

"...When people care, they have to say the hard things to each other sometimes. Keeping the truth inside when it could help someone get better isn't real love."