This is book #2 in the 'Soup Kitchen Kids' series and Book #6 in the 'From the Heart Collection'.
Markus and Ashley (Pippa) who are twins, along with their parents, Brian and Jackie, live on top of the Sunshine Laundromat. The small town, called Jamestown, is located in Northern Ontario, Canada. Tawny, Pippa's neighbour and best friend lives with them. Where they live is not considered the nicest part of Jamestown, but it is the cheapest place to live. One of the central places of Jamestown is the local soup kitchen where the kids sometimes eat with the other families and hang out. Pippa had a great summer. Not only are things going well for the family, but they are now also the proud owners of a vehicle now. An old orange van they call 'The Beast'. All was going well until Tawny's mother, Isabelle, goes missing. When the police are contacted, everyone then realizes that Tawny is only staying with the Wallace's. She is still legally at her mother's place. Because her mother is missing, Tawny is labelled as an abandoned child and placed into foster care until the authorities can sort things out. Soup Kitchen kids live a bit differently. They teach us that lack of money does not mean lack of love, fun or family. It teaches that family can be those not related by blood but people bonded together with love. Family is also the people you want and need in your life.
