Forever, or a Long, Long Time

Eleven-year-old Flora and her brother Julian were abandoned by their mother as young children and bounced around several foster homes where they lacked love, food, and attention, until loving and supportive Emily adopts them. Emily tells them that she will keep them forever, but they still worry, especially when Emily marries and then becomes pregnant. Emily takes the two on a trip to revisit foster homes and learn about themselves which helps them trust their new parents. Suitable for a read-aloud, literature circle, or class novel study for grades 5-7, the novel can launch discussions of basic human physical and emotional needs and how patience, love, and compassion can bring healing.