2018
WISE Score
Amazon
A heavy-hitting but heart-filled story about a girl who refuses to let her friend be evicted without a fight.
4.7
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This book is the opposite of 'brain rot.' Originally published as 'Sidewalk Story,' this 2018 edition brings a necessary dose of reality to the bookshelf. It doesn't pander to kids or sugarcoat the fact that life can be unfair, but it also shows that a single person—even a small one—can make a massive noise.
It’s a short read, but it lingers. If you want a book that actually sparks a real conversation about the world instead of just distracting your kid for twenty minutes, this is it.
Perfect for 7 to 11-year-olds. It’s a great 'bridge' book for kids moving into more serious themes but who still need a relatable, child-led perspective.
The story is centered entirely on selfless friendship and community support. It models a child taking initiative to help a friend in a crisis without being preachy.
While it's realistic fiction, it encourages 'social imagination'—the ability to see a problem and imagine a way to fix it when adults have given up.
Completely safe from a content perspective. The only 'danger' is the emotional weight of a family losing their home, which is handled with care.
It tackles housing insecurity and poverty through a child's eyes. It’s a high-value tool for building empathy and understanding social justice.
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