Strays Like Us by Richard Peck

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 to the heart of every kid who’s ever felt like an outsider.