A heartfelt and moving novel in verse for readers 9+.

who wants a temporary place

to act like a forever one?

Especially when the social services people keep telling you

over and over and over that place

is "safer" than your parents

is a "good" solution

is someone you're "extremely lucky"

to have offered you a home.

Laura Rodriguez has a plan: No matter what the grown-ups say, she will live with her parents again. Can you blame her? It's tough to make friends as the new kid at school. And while staying at her aunt's house is okay, it just isn't the same.

But that's all going to change. Because when Laura finds a puppy, it seems like fate. If she can train the puppy to become a therapy dog, then maybe she'll be allowed to visit her parents. Maybe the dog will help them get better, and things will finally go back to the way they should.

After all, how do you explain to others that you're technically a foster kid, even when you live with your aunt? Most of all . . . how do you explain that you're not where you belong, and you just want to go home?

From the winner of the Newbery Honor Award.