Winner of the Governor General's Literary Award
Polly loves her life. Her small but cozy bedroom by the stained glass window made by her artist mother, the nutty schemes of her best friend Vanessa, the Protheroes who live downstairs -- it all seems so right that Polly hardly notices that she's never known her father.
But when the house is suddenly sold, and it becomes obvious that her mother isn't very good at finding a new home that they can afford, Polly begins to doubt that her life was so perfect after all. Unwilling to move temporarily into her mother's studio, Polly goes to live with her rich uncle and his family. One day, a nasty blow-up with her cousin makes Polly realise where her home really is, and helps her to confront her anger at her mother's long-ago decision to have a baby on her own.
Sarah Ellis's sense of humor and perfect control of voice leaven her often very serious subjects, making Pick-Up Sticks a warm, moving, and very funny novel.