Based on a true story, The Cardboard Castle captures the transformative power that results when one teacher encourages his students to think outside the box. Mr. Govern is a favorite fifth-grade teacher at Washington Elementary school, an urban school with concrete walls and bars on the window. When Mr. Govern challenges his students to re-imagine the regular, into something unique and unusual his classroom buzzes with excitement. All the students work enthusiastically with partners on their creations. One student remains quiet and alone---Stinky Stella. Stella has been an outsider since kindergarten. Her classmates have always viewed her as the dirty girl with knotted hair and worn out clothes who lives on the wrong side of town. What her peers don't realize is that Stella has an inner beauty and special talent patiently waiting to be discovered. In this heartwarming story, readers will be cheering for Stella and celebrating the gifts that lie buried within each of us.