Responsible William (12), troublemaker Edmund (11), and sensitive Anna (9) have just lost their grandmother, a less-than-stellar guardian. Now truly orphaned, the three white siblings are evacuated from London to the English countryside as part of Operation Pied Piper in 1940. The family lawyer has a “preposterous plan”: He hopes the children will find a family during evacuation that wants to adopt them for their own merits rather than the money they’ve inherited. They are first billeted with the Forresters, a family whose parents are largely clueless that their twin sons are relentless bullies. They are next placed with Mrs. Griffith, who is poor, overwhelmed with four young children of her own, and eager for free help. Voracious readers, the siblings take refuge from the indignities, hardships, and crises of both placements at the library, where the savvy librarian puts books in their hands. Mrs. Muller, the librarian, is spirited, generous, and kind, but has been deemed an “unsuitable” foster because she was married to a German man. While the plot arc and final destination of this orphan story are totally predictable—of course Mrs. Muller will adopt them, and gain acceptance in the community, too—it’s a pleasure getting there, not only because the characters and characterizations are more nuanced than expected, but because of a few surprising curves on the journey in a story steeped in love for books and reading. (Ages 8-10)

A heartwarming story about three siblings, evacuated from London to live in the countryside, looking for a permanent home--and a new meaning for family.

A New York Public Library Best Book of the Year

It is 1940 and William, 12, Edmund, 11, and Anna, 9, aren't terribly upset by the death of the not-so-grandmotherly grandmother who has taken care of them since their parents died.

But the children do need a guardian, and in the dark days of World War II London, those are in short supply, especially if they hope to stay together. Could the mass wartime evacuation of children from London to the countryside be the answer?

It's a preposterous plan, but off they go-- keeping their predicament a secret, and hoping to be placed in a temporary home that ends up lasting forever. Moving from one billet to another, the children suffer the cruel trickery of foster brothers, the cold realities of outdoor toilets and the hollowness of empty stomachs.

But at least they find comfort in the village lending library-- a cozy shelter from the harshness of everyday life, filled with favorite stories and the quiet company of Nora Müller, the kind librarian. The children wonder if Nora could be the family they've been searching for. . . . But the shadow of the war, and the unknown whereaouts of Nora's German husband complicate matters.

A Place to Hang the Moon is a story about the importance of family: the one you're given, and the one you choose. Filled with rich, sensory prose, allusions to classic children's stories like A Little Princess, Mary Poppins, and The Story of Ferdinand, this cozy tale with a classic feel is sure to warm your heart. Don't miss Kate Albus's Nothing Else But Miracles which takes place in New York City during WWII and was described as "historical fiction at its finest" in a starred review from School Library Journal.

An ALSC Notable Children's Book
An SCBWI Crystal Kite Award Winner
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
Named to the Pennsylvania Young Readers Choice List
A CCBC Choice