"How about a story? Spin us a yarn."
Instantly, Phoebe Winterbottom came to mind. "I could tell you an extensively strange story," I warned.
"Oh, good!" Gram said. "Delicious!"
And that is how I happened to tell them about Phoebe, her disappearing mother, and the lunatic.

As Sal entertains her grandparents with Phoebe's outrageous story, her own story begins to unfold--the story of a thirteen-year-old girl whose only wish is to be reunited with her missing mother.

In her own award-winning style, Sharon Creech intricately weaves together two tales, one funny, one bittersweet, to create a heartwarming, compelling, and utterly moving story of love, loss, and the complexity of human emotion.

A 1995 ALA Notable Children's Book
School Library Journal Best Book of 1994
Winner of a 1994 Bulletin Blue Ribbon
A Notable Children's Trade Book in the Language Arts (NCTE)
Winner of the 1997 Heartland Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature
Winner, 1995 Newbery Medal
Notable Children's Books of 1995 (ALA)
1995 Notable Trade Books in the Language Arts (NCTE)
Children's Book Award for Longer Novels (Great Britain's Federation of Children's Books Groups)
Outstanding Books of 1994 for Middle School-Aged Teens (V)
Best Books 1994 (SLJ)
Bulletin Blue Ribbon Books 1994 (C)

Their professional working titles given by the government is Disease Intervention Specialist or DIS, but out on the streets, people know them as the STD Police.

What are the most prevalent sports injuries for male teenagers? How should a guy protect himself from injury or disease while enjoying outdoor activities? Is it normal for a teenager to feel depressed? Answers to these questions and others often asked by adolescent boys can be found in this straightforward guide written specifically for them. Goldstein, a physician who specializes in care for adolescents, provides examples from his own practice to explain the most common ailments of this age group, as well as to provide boys with the choices they can make to help keep themselves healthy.

Arranged topically, each chapter covers a different aspect of mind and body. Readers will discover what physical changes they can expect at their age, as well as the most common physical ailments. They can also find out what psychological changes they may be experiencing and why, along with ways to get help for serious problems like drug and alcohol abuse or suicidal tendencies. The many topics covered include: nutrition, sports, injuries, sexuality, suicide, drug and alcohol abuse, and cross cultural issues. Written with an emphasis on wellness, advice is given on how to prevent injuries and disease, as well as how to care for one's body through good habits like eating well and getting enough sleep. Boys are encouraged to take care of themselves and to develop open and honest relationships with their physicians to help insure a happy and healthy adolescence.