Polly begins to talk to her mother at this point and finds out more about her history with why her mother choose to have her, and that her mother had finally found a place for them to live. Through these experiences she learns that despite their financial situation she has a mother who loves her and she discovers who she is as a person. Finding Oneself: the author states that there is nothing that scares her more than the idea of being homeless and losing a sense of who she is. As Polly loses the security of her home and material possessions, she is forced to find out who she is and grows closer to her mother in the process. The story takes place in the suburbs of Vancouver. It also mentions the city of Richmond, which is part of the greater metropolitan area of Vancouver. "Pick-Up Sticks" won the Governor General's Awards for Children’s Literature in 1991 and was the "School Library Journal"'s Best Book of the Year. Some reactions to the book include: “...ordinary people, simple events, big themes. A lovely book." ("Toronto Sun"); "Ellis deftly presents believable characters and situations, and shows how the spirit of family can be captured in non-traditional relationships." ("Edmonton Journal") and "Ellis’s writing is lean and child-centered; her insights are perceptive and have an unmistakable ring of honesty." ("The Horn Book Magazine")  "Canadian Literature" praised it for rejecting any easy solution for Polly's problems, though they found the presentation of wealthy characters relied on stereotypes. "Publishers Weekly" found Ellis's style to be "quiet" and "nonintrusive" rather than dazzling, but considered this well-suited to a low-key "slight" story.