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What happens when nobody wants to be the one holding the problem?

In Homeless Carol — Book 10: Hot Potato, Carol and her friends begin with a simple playground game.

A soft beanbag moves quickly around the circle.
Everyone laughs.
Everyone wants to pass it before the music stops.

But when something important goes missing near the church, the game begins to feel very different.

Suspicion moves from one child to another.

A rumor starts.
Someone whispers a possibility.
Another person repeats it.
Soon, the group begins looking for someone to blame before they fully understand what happened.

Some children stay quiet because they are afraid.
Some repeat what they heard without checking whether it is true.
Some judge based on appearances.
Others protect themselves by passing the blame to someone else.

Carol refuses to join the accusation.

Instead, she sits beside Max, listens carefully, and begins asking questions.

What do we actually know?
What are we assuming?
Who has been heard?
Who has been blamed without evidence?
And what happens when fear becomes more powerful than truth?

Hot Potato transforms a familiar playground game into a meaningful story about rumors, accountability, fairness, honesty, and the responsibility we have when our words can affect someone else.

What Readers Will Learn

• How rumors can grow as they move from person to person
• Why suspicion is not the same as evidence
• How fear can cause people to blame others
• Why repeating information carries responsibility
• The importance of listening before judging
• How to admit mistakes and repair harm
• Why accountability is different from public humiliation
• How communities can work together to solve a problem

Key Themes

Responsibility
Understanding that our words, choices, and accusations can affect other people.

Truth
Learning to separate facts from assumptions, fear, and gossip.

Accountability
Taking ownership of mistakes without passing blame to someone else.

Empathy
Considering how it feels to be accused, ignored, or judged unfairly.

Community
Working together to repair what was damaged and rebuild trust.

The Blame Game

The hot potato becomes a symbol of a problem nobody wants to hold.

Each person tries to pass it quickly:

The blame.
The discomfort.
The responsibility.
The fear of being wrong.

Carol helps the group understand that passing a problem does not solve it.

Someone must be willing to stop, examine what happened, tell the truth, and help make things right.

Perfect For

• Children learning about rumors and responsibility
• Families discussing honesty, blame, and trust
• Teachers and homeschool programs
• Social-emotional learning activities
• Classroom conversations about conflict and fairness
• Anti-bullying and character-education programs
• Youth groups focused on accountability and community

Suggested Age Range

Ages 7–12, with meaningful discussion opportunities for families, educators, mentors, and young readers.

Closing Message

Blame can travel quickly.

Truth usually asks us to slow down.

Before you point, repeat, or accuse, pause and ask what you truly know.

Stop the rumor. Hold the truth. Choose responsibility over blame.