Angel in My Pocket

When Bette finds an angel coin among the money collected in a carwash, she puts it in her pocket and forgets about it. But things start to change, especially once Gabby, a mysterious and kind new neighbor, moves into Bette's Chicago building. Suddenly, Bette is able to face some big losses―her mother's recent death; her sister's departure for college―and move forward. And once the angel coin falls into the hands of three other kids in Bette's class, their lives change, too. Soon, these two girls and two boys will be connected in ways that open them up to unlikely friendships and new ways to believe in themselves. Here is an entirely new twist on the angel trend.

Ilene Cooper is the children's book editor of Booklist magazine. She is also the author of several novels, picture books, and works of nonfiction, including The Golden Rule, Sam I Am, and Jack: The Early Years of John F. Kennedy. She lives and works in Chicago.