Family Picture

Dean Hughes tells the story of eleven-year-old David, sole survivor of the accident that killed his family, navigating a foster care system where he feels unwanted until he eventually runs away to the streets and finds unexpected kindness from a hotel worker named Paul. Hughes has described this as one of his personal favorites among his novels, and the emotional honesty shows — David's grief and cautious hope feel real rather than tidy. The character-driven storytelling suits middle-grade readers well, and the LDS author's instinct toward wholesome, warm values comes through without being heavy-handed. The street homelessness storyline is handled carefully but may prompt conversation with younger readers. Now significantly dated and harder to find in print, but worth seeking out for character-driven fiction with genuine heart.