In this empathetic tale of hope, understanding and the importance of family, young readers are introduced to the difficult issue of poverty and the many hardships of being homeless through an inspiring young heroine named Ivy. Blending a spoonful of Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist (Penguin Classics, 2010) with a dash of Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City (Black Swan, 2007) and a few pinches of the Adventures of Lassie, Ivy's tale will appeal to young readers as well as give adults material to discuss with them.