Growing up in the 1950s, young Lee Bennett Hopkins faced the painful events of his parents" divorce, an unstable homelife, and a hand-to-mouth existence. Through it all, he clung to the memory of his beloved grandmother and his hope of becoming a writer. In these emotionally charged autobiographical poems, the celebrated author and anthologist captures a boy"s feelings, experiences, and aspirations in the tumultuous period of his life. Here is a powerful collection that paints bittersweet images of family life: the family car crammed with packing boxes, ready to move Daddy, Mama, and the three children closer to Grandma; Daddy"s slippers tossed in the giveaway bag, a sure sign that Daddy is gone for good; the "wobbly staircase" that takes Mama and her young ones to live in yet "another hollow place"; the different schools, where one is always the new boy in class; the teacher, who encourages her new pupil to follow his dreams. Buoyed by the promise of tomorrow, Lee Bennett Hopkins offers an intense coming-of-age work that speaks to today"s young readers.