Book Thesis: 

One little girl named Lydia Grace from the country moved to the city to live with her Uncle Jim during the Great Depression and brightened up the lives of the community there.

Supporting Details for Thesis

• She wrote a poem for her uncle and he put it lovingly in his pocket.

• She made friends with the other workers in the bakery, teaching Emma the Latin names of the flowers she knew. Emma also helped her grow her flowers.

• She grew flowers all along the storefront in window boxes and containers. It made the customers happy.

• She grew a special rooftop garden to try and make her Uncle Jim smile.

Major Concepts

• Take charge of your own destiny to make things happen

• Making the best of a not-so-perfect situation

• Anyone can be a ray of sunshine in the gloom

• Hope

Possible Uses in The Classroom/Profession

• Writing prompt--how can you use your gifts to help make the people in your life happy?

• This book could be used to discuss the best ways to handle transitions in our lives, especially since a good many students experience transitions very frequently in their young lives.