Where I Belong

Where I Belong by Mary Downing Hahn, 226 pages

Brendan hates school and doesn’t do well, except in art.  He loves to draw.  He’s actually smart, but when he doesn’t understand, his teachers and classmates tease him.  He lives with a foster mother, who criticizes him.  Although he’s been told not to go in the woods, Brendan does anyway, and builds a tree house that becomes his special place.  He also meets the Green Man and Brendan finally feels like he has a place where he belongs.  However, because he failed sixth grade, he has to go to summer school.  While there, he meets a new girl, Shea, who might actually be a friend.  His teacher is much better also, and Brendan starts to feel like he could learn something.  But everything could fall apart when Brendan is attacked by three local boys.  Afraid of possible retaliation, Brendan won’t tell anyone who hurt him, which could have devastating consequences.  This is a really good story for kids about friendship.