If the word "orphanage" conjures up images of rags, dirt and gruel, change your expectations, according to journalist and activist Carr. Now called "residential educational facilities" (REFs) or academies and refashioned into sanctuaries for children who have nowhere else to call home, many institutions feature homey touches such as resident couples, solid academics, enrichment opportunities, and plenty of contact with the community. Readers learn as much about Carr as we do about the REFs as she reviews nine such facilities and explains her own experiences as a single mother of a child with special needs. Carr argues REFs are a viable option because qualified and safe foster care is getting harder to come by while at the same time the number of children in need grows. She also provides advice from the REFs on bringing up independent, forthright kids regardless of where they call home. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)