To the Moon and Back by Kathi Kotchi
F ourteen-year-old Jessica Maxwell lives alone with her alcoholic mother after her baby sister, older brother and father died years ago. John Garrett is the lone survivor of a horrific car accident that claimed the lives of his wife and toddler daughter months ago. John is Jessica’s ninth grade teacher and one day, early in the school year, noticing her declining grades, he reaches out as a mentor. After initially de- clining she eventually accepts, and soon finds his house is the only place she finds security and
peace. After several months, John calls social service, concerned over Jessie’s mother’s obvi- ous neglect. Jessica’s home situation improves, but then the unthinkable happens and John pursues custody of Jessie. But will he get it? This is a powerful and moving story of living with grief and neglect, of survival, of acceptance, of the power of friendship and love between two very different people.
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