There are 150 million people experiencing homelessness worldwide, and that number is increasing every year. Homelessness is not a choice, yet it exists in almost every community.
A new middle-grade nonfiction book out this week from Orca Book Publishers examines why people are homeless and what young readers can do to help.
In Shelter: Homelessness in Our Community, Lois Peterson introduces readers to the root causes of homelessness and its effects, and what people and organizations around the world are doing to address the problem.
Shelter features the personal stories of people who live on the street and the adults and kids who work with them. As a former homeless shelter worker, Peterson encourages young people to approach the issue with knowledge and compassion. She dispels some of the myths about homelessness and makes the case for why everyone deserves a safe, permanent place to call home.
This is the newest title in the Orca Think series of middle-grade nonfiction books about the issues making headlines today. The first book in the series was Finding Home: The Journey of Immigrants and Refugees by Jen Sookfong Lee.
Based in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Lois Peterson is the award-winning author of eight books of fiction for children, and numerous short stories, essays and articles for adults. She previously worked as the executive director of a homeless shelter, as well as working at a public library for more than 35 years.
Praise for Shelter: Homelessness in Our Community:
“Balanced, up-to-date coverage…Students, teachers, and parents will appreciate these detailed and engaging offerings.”—Booklist
“A thought-provoking book that is suited to the target audience. Recommended.”—CM: Canadian Review of Materials
About Orca Book Publishers:
Founded in 1984, Orca Book Publishers is an independently owned Canadian children’s book publisher of award-winning, best-selling books in a number of genres. With 1200 active titles in print and digital formats and 95 new titles each year, Orca prides itself on publishing Canadian authors and bringing them to a wider market.