The Echo Park Castaways - by M G Hennessey (Hardcover)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

From the author of The Other Boy comes a poignant and heartfelt novel that explores what it means to be a family. Perfect for fans of Counting by 7s.

Nevaeh, Vic, and Mara are veterans of the Los Angeles foster care system. For over a year they've been staying with Mrs. K in Echo Park. Vic spends most of his time living in a dream world, Mara barely speaks, and Nevaeh is forced to act as a back-up parent. Though their situation isn't ideal, it's still their best home yet.

Then Child Protective Services places Quentin in the house, and everything is turned upside down. Nevaeh really can't handle watching over anyone else, especially a boy on the autism spectrum. Meanwhile, Quentin is having trouble adjusting and attempts to run away.

So when Vic realizes Quentin just wants to see his mom again, he plans an "epic quest" to reunite them. It could result in the foster siblings getting sent to different group homes. But isn't family always worth the risk?

Review Quotes

"Authentic. Sweet and sad, but with enough action to keep realistic fiction readers invested until the end." -- School Library Journal

"Adventure with ample heart. Hennessey is honest about the realities of deportation and foster care but manages to create a believably gentle conclusion for her characters." -- Publishers Weekly