When the Ragman Sings — Judith Logan Lehne

In 1920's Baltimore, ten-year-old Dorothea struggles to solve the mystery behind her mother's unlikely friendship with the old black ragman and his possible connection to her mother's death. As she uncovers clues, Dorothea comes to terms with her loss and learns that “things are rarely what they first appear to be.” WHEN THE RAGMAN SINGS is steeped in the history of Baltimore, still a southern city in the years following World War I. A timeless story for middle grade readers, it examines loss and prejudice, honor and love, through the eyes of a child who has to confront these issues for the very first time. [Review: American Bookseller] “This is truly a soul-satisfying book on the par with Sarah Plain and Tall.”