Overall, Almost Home displays incredible insight on the incredibly strong bond of a mother and daughter, and how they pull through an unimaginably difficult situation.My name is Leah and I have a confession to make. There were several other quotes that hit me hard, as well. One being, “It’s so perfect it’s irritating.” That has got to be one of the most relatable quotes of all time. There were several quotes throughout the entire book that stood out to me. I absolutely love how she used writing as an escape. Her beautiful poems defined inspiring, hopeful and grateful. However, that tended to fade as the chapters grew. Another thing I would say is that in some chapters, Sugar seemed to be portrayed as more of a younger child than twelve. But during the first few chapters, I was hooked. Now, I’m going to be honest, there were some chapters where it got kind of slow, and nothing interesting happened much.

I can definitely say that my compassion for children such as Sugar has increased through the reading of this book. Her pain is incredibly realistic, and yet so is her courage. I personally can relate to many of her quotes about her father. Especially when it comes to her father, Mr. One of the best traits of this book, in my opinion, is that it is so easy to relate to Sugar’s pain, confusion and heartache. Bauer also brings moments of levity and hopefulness to the story, which she peppers with a cast of thoughtfully crafted personalities. Sugar's anger, fear, humility, and resolve are portrayed with insight and compassion. Bauer (Close to Famous) explores a timely issue through the eyes of a resilient girl the kind of heroine so familiar to Bauer's fans. She relies on her poetry, along with support from a loving foster family and a favorite teacher, when the stress of their circumstances drives Reba to a serious breakdown. 'Before all this happened/ I wasn't brave like I am now./ I didn't know I could take care of my mother/ or pee by the side of the road/ and not get my underpants wet,' writes Sugar, a talented poet.

But when they lose their house, Sugar must summon additional strength as she and Reba face homelessness. Twelve-year-old Sugar Mae Cole has had to act older than her age ever since her beloved grandfather died, and her father abandoned Sugar and her mother, Reba, yet again.

Hope Was Here by Joan Bauer