The Rattletrap Trip by Rachel Anderson
Julia lives with foster mum Sarsparilla and assorted foster brothers and sisters. When Sarsparilla decides they should all go off and start a new life living self-sufficiently in the country, it's the start of all sorts of problems and challenges, which lead Julia to start finding out what makes a family a family. Rachel Anderson is winner of the Guardian Children's Fiction Award for Paper Faces. She tackles issues of fostering and family groups in the context of a funny, gripping story. Her book has a range of appealing characters, including children with learning difficulties.