But even though Cammie's free to leave the prison, she's still stuck. And sad, and really mad. Her mother died saving her from harm when she was just a baby. You wouldn't think you could miss something you never had, but on the eve of her thirteenth birthday, the thing Cammie most wants is a mom. A prison might not be the best place to search for a mother, but Cammie is determined and she's willing to work with what she's got.
"A tapestry of grief and redemption, woven by a master storyteller ....Moving and memorable." --Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review
"The prison community is a powerful backdrop for Cammie's turbulent coming of age, populated with messy lives that brighten in Cammie's presence but that have their own demons to tame." -- Bulletin, starred review
"Jerry Spinelli again proves why he's the king of storytellers." -- Shelf Awareness, starred review
"This is a story about facing hard truths and growing up. Readers will love the details of having a prison compound for a home and adore the many secondary characters who help keep Cammie's head above water during her desperate search for happiness." -- Booklist
"Spinelli's gift for humorous chaos and his trademark magic realism touches are showcased here, and it is exhilarating to read about kids with so much urban freedom." -- The Horn Book
"Character development and realistic dialogue shine in this emotional historical fiction title. Spinelli's characters are achingly real."--School Library Journal