Wood, June Rae

Thirteen-year-old Buddy Rae and her best friend Jiniwin do everything together--taking care of Buddy's slow younger sister, "parenting" egg babies, talking about boys, and dealing with Buddy's family move to a farm outside Turnback, Missouri.

Thirteen-year-old Delrita, whose unhappy life has caused her to hide from the world, loves her uncle Punky but sometimes feels ashamed of his behavior because he has Down's syndrome.

A grumpy old veteran with his own history of grief helps fourteen-year old Delrita release the pent-up emotions she holds folowing the death of her parents.

Thirteen-year-old Delrita, whose unhappy life has caused her to hide from the world, loves her uncle Punky but sometimes feels ashamed of his behavior because he has Down syndrome.

A grumpy old veteran with his own history of grief helps fourteen-year-old Delrita release the pent-up emotions she holds following the death of her parents.

Thirteen-year-old Freedom who, along with her stepbrother, is being raised by an embittered alcoholic mother, longs to know who her father is and why his identity has always been a secret.

Both Glory Bea Goode, who lives with her grandmother over a second-hand store in Turnback, Missouri, and Marvalene Zulig, who travels with her parents with Shuroffs' Spectacular carnival, are unhappy with their lives until their friendship gives them a new perspective.

Thirteen-year-old Delrita, whose unhappy life has caused her to hide from the world, loves her uncle Punky but sometimes feels ashamed of his behavior because he has Down syndrome.

Thirteen-year-old Freedom who, along with her stepbrother, is being raised by an embittered alcoholic mother, longs to know who her father is and why his identity has always been a secret.

Both Glory Bea Goode, who lives with her grandmother over a second-hand store in Turnback, Missouri, and Marvalene Zulig, who travels with her parents with Shuroffs' Spectacular carnival, are unhappy with their lives until their friendship gives them a new perspective.