Penny From Heaven by  Jennifer L. Holm 

https://www.hotbooksale.com/p49108/Penny-from-Heaven.html

    Penny is an eleven year old girl who is from an Italian American family.  The setting of the story is in the 1950s so it gives you a glimpse of what life was like during those times.  Her mom seems crazy half the time and won't talk about her father's death at all, her uncle--who she adores-- is living in his car, and to make matters more confusing, neither side of her family talks to the other.

   Throughout the book there are some hard times that Penny has to go through-- one tragic accident in particluar.  But, because of this, new information is gained about how her father died.  Her family has to figure out a way to come together to get through things.  Read the book to find out...what is Penny's life about?