Strays Like Us

by Richard Peck

Book Overview

Molly Moberly knows she doesn't belong in this small Missouri town with her great-aunt Fay. It's just a temporary arrangement--until her mother gets out of the hospital. But then Molly meets Will, a fellow stray, and begins to realize she's not the only one on the outside. In fact, it seems like the town's full of strays--only some end up where they belong sooner than others. Richard Peck has created a rich, compassionate story that will go straight...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 014130619X
• ISBN13: 9780141306193
• Release Date: May 2000
• Publisher: Puffin Books
• Length: 160 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.2" x 7.5"
• Age Range: 8 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 3 to 7

Customer Reviews

Strays Like Us

Strays Like Us by Richard Peck is a fictional story about a girl name Molly Moberly. Molly is a 12-year-girl sent to live with her Aunt Fay in a small Missouri town while her mtoher is in the hospital. Aunt Fay, a distant relative, is Molly's only family. Aunt Fay works hard all over town as a home nurse. Molly waits for her mom everyday to come back. Molly is a pretty good artist but she only draws pictures of Debbie, her absent mother. She meets a boy named Will McKinney, who lives with his grandparents next door. Will tells Molly that they are two strays living with relatives. The McKinney's have a secret that will change Will's family dramatically. School starts, and Molly has to enroll because her mom has not came back for her yet. Not making any friends, Molly meets a home-schooled girl named Tracy at the public library. Everything is so perfect. Molly thinks that it would be cool to have a girl as a friend until Tracy invites her over and Molly realizes that she is not accepted in Tracy's world. Others, including her teachers, try to take Molly out of her shell but they fail in doing that. When Molly learns the terrible truth about her mother, the dramatic experience will change her forever. This book will keep you turning the pages at the edge of your seat. Molly and Will are Strays Like Us in this unraveling five star novel recommended for everyone!! By: Ariel, Camille, Kristen, and Stefanie Ms. Malone's 7th grade reading class!

Exclamation Points.

I have read a lot of books; three or four a week for the last 20 years. Many many of them have been very good. Few, however, are written as well as this one. Richard Peck is a fine author. I believe this may be his best book.It is not a long story, I read it in just a few hours. The depth of character development in this book is amazing, though. Also, Peck chooses his words so well. Many times I found myself thinking, "My this is good!" I wish I could write that way.What I find most interesting, however, is Peck's use of punctuation marks - or lack of it. About halfway through the book, I realized that he never used exclamation points. Oh, he did one or two times for a minor character, but never, not once, for the main character, Molly. Not during the fight. Not at the McKinney's on Thanksgiving Day. Not when she found out about her mother. Never once. Read the book with that in mind and notice how well it fits the story.Highly recommended. I am buying a personal copy of this book now.

I think that anyone can enjoy this book.

I think that a "Strays Like Us" is fantastic book. Molly's mother is in the hospital for her drug addiction. So Molly is sent to stay with her Aunt Fay. She meets a boy named Will who also is a stray without his parents. They go to school together and become close friends. I think that everyone who likes to read will like this book.

I couldn't put it down!

I picked it up and couldn't put it down. The plot had stuff going at all times so there weren't any boring or slow parts. I highly reccommend it!

good book, great heroin (get it?).

This book is twisted. It has so many twists and turns a person can get lost in the book yet know every single detail. I like it like that.