When Lonnie was seven years old, his parents died in a fire. Now hes eleven, and he still misses them terribly. And he misses his little sister, Lili, who was put into a different foster home because not a lot of people want boys-not foster boys that aint babies. But Lonnie hasnt given up. His foster mother, Miss Edna, is growing on him. Shes already raised two sons and she seems to know what makes them tick. And his teacher, Ms. Marcus, is showing him ways to put his jumbled feelings on paper.