A Greater Goode — Amy Schor Ferris

�"Not everyone needs a friend, Addie. Sometimes people just wanna be left alone. You're just gonna have to start mindin' your own business and let people be.”

Remembering her dad's words, Addie's not sure what to do when she comes across a young woman obviously in need of a friend. Especially when Luke, her best friend, tells her not to get involved. But Addie, being Addie, can't turn her back on Rachel, who's very pregnant and in a relationship with an abusive boyfriend. Addie gives her food and clothes, but when Rachel stirs up too many memories of Addie's own mother, who abandoned her when she was three, Addie has to ask her to leave. Soon, though, because of her tendency to start conversations with strangers, Addie again finds she has to get involved in Rachel's life and with the help of Luke and Jessie, her housekeeper/friend/confidante, she goes in search of her. Twelve-year-old Addie Goode and her pal Luke are characters you won't soon forget in this funny and uplifting novel about life, friends, mothers, and not minding your own business.