Rabble Starkey

First published in 1987, Rabble Starkey was one of two-time Newbery Medalist Lois Lowry’s first novels. Its powerful and thought-provoking themes continue to touch the hearts of readers today.

By the time she's twelve years old, Parable Ann Starkey—better known as simply Rabble—has had her fair share of trouble. Her father left her and her teenage mother when Rabble was just one month old, and she went to live with her grandmother Gnomie until she passed away. More than anything, Rabble craves stability, and she may have found it now, living with her mother and the Bigelows.

Rabble and her mother, Sweet Hosanna, have lived over the Bigelows’ garage for the past four years. Veronica Bigelow is twelve, too, and she’s more than Rabble’s best friend; she’s like a sister. When mental illness takes Veronica’s mother to a distant hospital, the Starkeys move into the larger house to help Mr. Bigelow take care of Veronica’s younger brother, Gunther.

As the two families grow closer, Rabble feels more at home than she ever has. Something that feels like family has formed. For Rabble, it feels like forever—but can it truly last?

Lois Lowry's many beloved books include Number the Stars and The Giver, both recognized with the Newbery Medal.

Best Friends Like Sisters: Experience the unbreakable bond between Rabble Starkey and Veronica Bigelow, two twelve-year-old girls from different worlds who navigate life’s challenges side-by-side. Mothers and Daughters: A heartfelt look at complex family dynamics, from Rabble’s close relationship with her young mother, Sweet Hosanna, to Veronica’s struggle with her mother’s illness. A Test of Resilience: When crisis strikes the Bigelow household, Rabble and her mom move from the garage apartment into the main house, creating a new, blended family that challenges everyone’s definition of home. Small Town Setting: Set in the vividly drawn town of Highriver, this story captures the feeling of growing up where everyone knows your business, for better or for worse.