Vinnie's world has turned into a gray and dirty place. Daddy has died, and because Momma doesn't have enough money, they have to move away from everything Vinnie knows, including her best friend. They move to a small town in Virginia to live with her grandmother. Vinnie feels lonely and overlooked. Her little brother, Mason, has not spoken since Daddy died, and the school administration has a hard time dealing with him. Vinnie has found a ray of hope in all of her misery though, and that ray is Mr. Clayton, her teacher, who offers her comfort and reassurance. She also finds a curious classmate, Lupe, who plays alone at recess and, also, has a special friend in Mr. Clayton. A story of children facing very difficult challenges in their lives offered up with resilience, hopeful friendship, and the compassion of a wonderful teacher. 128 pages