For six years, Ben, age 11, has been shunted from one bad foster home to another. He reacts by withdrawing, never allowing himself to get too close to anyone. Then he surprises himself by feeling an attachment to mischievous 1-year-old Grover G. Graham. In order to save Grover from spending his childhood in the foster-care system, Ben takes the baby and runs away.

Again, Mary Quattlebaum has given us characters we can believe in and care about.

This book is reserved for one of the Book Buffet tables at the 2011 BookCrossing Convention in the Washington, D.C., area April 15-17. Author Mary Quattlebaum will be speaking. This book is already autographed, but if you come to the convention and select this one from the buffet tables, you can ask her to personalize it to you or your favorite young reader.

See http://www.bcindc.zoiks.org/ for convention information.

This will be on one of the Book Buffet tables in the atrium of the convention hotel.

See http://www.bcindc.zoiks.org/ for convention information.

This was left on the BookCrossers-only book buffet at the 2011 BookCrossing Convention in Washington, DC. I plan to continue its journey via bookray or RABCK.

...but not until I've read it. Mary Quattlebaum spoke at the convention and there's no way I'm letting this one get away without me reading it. :)

Ben Watson is just arriving at his eighth foster home, which is his first experience with foster siblings. He unexpectedly bonds with one-year-old Grover G. Graham, to the point where he resents Grover's teen mother. This is more or less a slice-of-life story. It was pretty predictable, following the traditional plot arc, and honestly I probably wouldn't have even finished it were it not so short. However, Quattlebaum's books for younger readers are mostly awesome, particularly Pirate vs. Pirate. So check that out instead.

Taking to the BCinDC holiday party for 6of8, who has it on her wishlist.

Thanks for the wishlist book! Have been wanting to check out more Mary Quattlebaum since the convention and the storyline of this strikes me as particularly intriguing. Mt. TBR is huge (as is the small slice of books I am hoping to read before the end of Christmas holidays) but I am adding this and hope to get it passed along soon.

My newest plan for my day off each week is to read one of the smaller books on Mt. TBR -- hopefully I can whittle down the pile that kitty keeps knocking over. This book was the first one I picked up, so I read it today. I laughed, I cried, and was quite content with my choice, since this was an enjoyable and quick read.

While I concede that Melydia's comment on predictability is right, I was glad of that fact. I was glad to see that the characters were able to learn and grow, and that the possibilities of an ultimately happy outcome are pretty evenly balanced with those for disappointment and disaster. Indeed, disappointment is likely at some point for everyone, especially in the foster care system, but the lesson that you can make the choice to make the most of the good things that are offered, for however they last, is a good one to be reminded of.

Now the question is, what shall I do with this book? A wild release is a possibility -- guess I will just have to see what chances come along.

Thought I would take this to the meet-up today and see if anyone in the group is interested in it. I think we all have a special connection to the author after she spoke at our convention (and did such a spirited, live-action version of Pirate vs Pirate). If it doesn't get a taker, it will go either on the OBCZ shelf or maybe into the Little Free Library nearby.

Welcome to Book Crossing -- this book is now yours to read, retain, release, or any combination thereof which suits your fancy. Books registered with Book Crossing are tracked by those who have read them before to see where they will go and who they will meet on their journeys. People who participate in the Book Crossing community often establish friendships and trade books or comments on books and just relish a relationship with other readers across the globe.

You are welcome (and encouraged) to create a journal entry on the book, particularly when passing it on to a specific someone or releasing in the wild. You don't have to read the book to create a journal entry nor do you have to feel obligated to write only positive things. All those who have had their hands on the book before you would be excited to read any journal entry you choose to make.

You can remain anonymous or join Book Crossing, where you are known to others by the screen name of your choice and no personal information is revealed. If you join, you can receive e-mail updates about all the places this book travels to in the future. (I would love it if you listed me, 6of8, as your referring member).

Sharing books in this fashion is just another way of spreading good karma across the world. Whatever you choose to do, enjoy the book!

This one has returned to me via this past weekend's meetup at Birdie's. I took it again so I can donate it to the Book Swap at a local elementary school.