Home from Far

This was one of Jean Little's really creative books. I thoroughly enjoyed her book!Jenny's younger brother was killed in a car accident, and Jenny has to come to grips with the fact that is gone. The car that had killed Michael, had thrown Jenny and her friend into the snowbank. Her mother and younger brothers were injured, but Michael was the only one who actually succumbed to his injuries.Mr. and Mrs. McGregor went to the Adoption Center to adopt two younger children, one who was around Jenny's Age, and then one who was a little bit younger. Their names were Hilda and Michael Jackson. Ironically, Jenny's brother name was Michael, and she was a little bit touchy with the fact that he was able to get the use of all of Michael's stuff, and then the fact that the dog took an immediate liking to him, whereas the liking to her from the dog was not there!If you would like to see how Hilda, Jenny, Michael, Malcolm and Alex interact with each other, please read the book Home From Far, and it won't be disappointing!

Missy, 11 has suffered a terrible loss. Her twin brother Michael was killed in an automobile accident when they were 10. Their mother and two younger brothers were in that car, but Michael was the only casualty.Their parents decide to adopt two foster children, a boy Missy's age who just happens to be named Michael and his fun loving 6-year-old sister. Their father, a widower who works nights lives in a boarding house and has no viable means of supporting them.The newcomers have a hard time settling in and Missy feels awkward using her brother's name for this boy. Their mother has changed the seating arrangement at the table, has all three boys in different bedrooms with one of the younger boys in Michael's room and the living Michael in a room that he would have no kind of connection. The girls bunk together.Missy feels as if everyone is trying to sweep the memory of her brother under the rug. She confronts her mother about this, who confides that losing Michael was the most painful, unbearable loss. As a girl, Missy's mother stayed with an aunt and uncle who were obsessed over the loss of their adult son. Feeling this was unhealthy, she vowed not to become that obsessed over Michael's death and that was why the sleeping and seating arrangements were changed.A healthy conversation and new insights emerge and this book shouold be brought back. The title, "Home From Far" was taken from an old church song.