ISBN: 0-88739-287-3
272 pp.
Size: 6 x 9
Pub Date: 5/2000
Paperback Original
Price: $12.95
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Ivy
Tale of a Homeless Girl in San Francisco
Summer Brenner
Ivy is the story of a young girl who finds herself homeless on the streets of San Francisco when she and her father are evicted from his artist. He's a painter, down and out on his luck, and he and Ivy wander through a series of real and surreal adventures.
Led to safety by an uncanny dog, Dice, Ivy and her father meet and eccentric, elderly pair of Scottish siblings, Eugenia and Oscar Orr. The Orrs live in a crumbling estate that Eugenia has named Tosca, after one of the operas she sang in her days as a famous diva. After one of the operas she sang in her days as a famous diva. After an encounter with the authorities, who arrest Poppy for vagrancy and almost put Ivy into foster care, they move in with the Orrs, where Poppy earns their keep by fixing up the place.
Review: "Although the happy ending might be considered unreal by many homeless children, the characters of Ivy and Poppy brim with life. Ivy is a sometimes moody teenager, unhappy with her situation and often resentful, while Poppy is frustrated and worn down by his failure to provide a better life for his beloved child."
-Barbara L. Sloane, The Montclarion
"Summer Brenner has written a quirky, clever story about a young girl's journey through the streets and homeless shelters of San Francisco. Ivy is fictional, but her circumstances are honest reflections of life for the many homeless children. For a story about homelessness, this novel is surprisingly light and funny. The author knows how to move a plot quickly. The characters are kind and eccentric...With its happy ending, this novel strikes a good balance between reality and sensibility."
-Jill Wolfson, San Jose Mercury News
"[Ivy] was one of the best books I have ever read. I liked it because it taught an important lesson of faith and trust. My favorite character was Ivy, because she was an inspiration....I really enjoyed reading this book."
-Rachel Hodge, age 13, Savannah, GA
"Ivy was a story that really seemed as if I was there with the characters. All the parts fit in so well that I almost forgot I was reading a book. It was as if I was watching a movie and could hear their thoughts....I especially liked the devotion that Ivy had to her father even though they went through such hard times. I am 12 and I think this book is great for all ages....Ivy is both fun and moving."
-Anna Moss, age 12, Boston, MA
Bio: SUMMER BRENNER has published seven books of fiction and poetry. A long-time resident of northern California, she grew up in Georgia and has also resided in New England and New Mexico. Ivy, Tale of a Homeless Girl in San Francisco is her first novel for young adults.
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