Beneath the Sugar Sky, Seanan Mcguire

It's an ordinary day at Eleanor West's Home for Wayward Children--until the girl falls out of the sky and into the turtle pond.

The girl, whose name is Rini, is looking for her mom, Sumi, who died in the first book in the series. Because of this, Rini is slowly disappearing. This sends some of the kids off on a quest with Rini, to bring Sumi back so Rini can exist. The trip leads them through great peril and into several worlds.

This is a very good novel, and a very fast read. You should buy it so there will be sequels.

Sugar Sky is part three in a series that starts with Every Heart a Doorway, but it will stand on its own easily enough.

Almost Home, Joan Bauer

Sugar May Cole's mom, Reba, is always believing the best about Sugar's dad. So when the bank starts foreclosure proceedings, Reba doesn't do anything because she believes Mr. Leeland will show up to save the day.

Sugar and Reba wind up on the street. And Sugar's just been given an adorable puppy, which complicates things. But things just keep going downhill for Reba, especially after they move to Chicago for a job that isn't there.

It's amazing that Bauer can still put her trademark hope into this story, but she does. This book is sad but good, and DOES have a good ending.