Strays like us

I wish I could find someone who writes adult novels as well as Peck writes middle grade. There is not one wasted word here and he never gets bogged down in details or descriptions. In fact, in this one, it's not even clear where this story is taking place and it feels out of time as well-there is a brief mention of computers.
I loved this story simply because it has everything I love in stories: a child who needs a home, people who struggle financially but who are noble, rich people who come off as complete asshats, and kids who are as smart as the adults. In fact, Molly drops some insights on life that made me tear up but never once doubt that someone who had gone through what she went through would see the world like that.
Peck doesn't psychoanalyze or baby the reader with explanations. Some of his characters are this way and that is how it is. Will's grandfather, for example, is forgetful and wanders out of the house in search of a supper he has already had. It's everyone's job to help out with him, because IT IS. Molly does not question, she accepts.
Peck gets the world of kids. I could actually smell my middle school while reading this.