Fifteen-year-old Iris Baldwin is stuck in the middle of 1920s rural Missouri, where she discovers that hobo is short for homeward bound, and cultivates an eccentric cast of folks into family, creating the home she's never had.

Reviews

Gr 6-8-Iris, a 15-year-old living in 1920s Missouri, is sent away for the summer by her father to become a live-in companion to a doctor's elderly mother. She has felt unwanted since her mother died when she was six, and now that her father has a new girlfriend, soon-to-be fiancee, Iris knows that there is no longer a place for her in his life. Her position as a caregiver in a rural community doesn't promise to improve her situation, but in Doctor Nesbitt and his mother, Iris finds compassion and friendship, and a place where she belongs. Thought-provoking and tender-hearted, Iris's story is one of a mature young woman who faces life with courage and common sense. Subplots include a romantic attachment, an abused and pregnant young neighbor, and a family death. This thoughtful novel offers strong character development and an engaging protagonist.-Debra Banna, Sharon Public Library, MA Copyright 2010 Reed Business Information.

* "Stuber's tender, evocative style aptly portrays both the evil and the good while remaining emotionally true. . . . [A] noteworthy debut." --"KIRKUS, "starred review