A beautiful story. Charlie's parents were not particularly good at caring for her, now they can not care for her so she goes to live with her aunt and uncle. She is not happy about having to move away. She keeps on wishing she could move back to her old town. She resents everyone and just about everything, until she meets a stray dog. Her sister come to stay for a few days and Charlie starts to see her new life with her aunt and uncle in a new light. A story well written. Both 10 year old and myself loved this book. The author paints a picture with her words. Both my daughter and myself could picture the characters and their homes. Good book for 10 years to to 99 years old.