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leahegood's review
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Summary
Sammy Lou is 15 and on his way to jail if the police ever catch up to him. He never meant to be this way--punching people and breaking into houses--but how else is he supposed to prevent people from hurting his older, autistic brother and how else is he supposed to get the tiny tastes of home that he so desperately, secretly craves?
And then, one day, his house stealing goes terribly wrong in the most terrifyingly perfect way. He wakes up in a stolen house to find the family home, and they catch him sneaking out. To his astounded shock, though, they all think he belongs, assuming he's one sibling or another's friend. The stolen sense of being wanted is more than Sammy Lou can resist, but it's only a matter of time before it all comes crashing down. He knows that. And he still can't force himself to turn away.
My Thoughts
After I got over the inital surprise of third person, present tense narration this story sucked me in right away. You can't help but feel sympathy for Sam's situation--his desperation to protect his brother, his efforts to ignore his wish for someone to protect him, his dream for a home and all the wrong ways he goes about trying to acheive that dream because there really aren't any other options available to him.
There's some typical MG/YA "lets keep the parents out of the picture as long as possible" storytelling that was both a slight need to suspend disbelief and also, as an older reader, a sense of "please, kids, don't do this at home." If I had read this in my early teens, this element would have been total wish fulfillment, though, even if I knew it wasn't realistic. And I appreciated the depiction of healthy fatherhood and compassionate manhood in Mr. De Lainey, even if he was a bit overly oblivious for the sake of the YA genre.
The word selection in this book was delicious. "He thinks of Moxie and her sewing needles and thimbles and her lemony frown."
I also appreciated that, while the story (rightly so) cast Sam in a sympathetic light and dwelled in the "honeymoon phase" of his introduction to the De Lainey family, it avoided acting like a friendly family and a high school romance could heal a lifetime of abuse and neglect. The ending was textbook for a hope-infused ending that didn't unrealistically solve every probelm.
Content
Romance: Sam finds Moxie attractive (his mental admiration is PG and generally respectful) and, as their friendship progresses, his reactions to her physical proximity are sometimes described. For example, as she's giving him a haircut: "...she goes on, unaware of the explosions happening under her fingertips every time she touches him." Later on in the story, the two cuddle (again, not descriptive) and kiss (not descriptive but frequent). One of Moxie's older brothers is also dating and one brother's ex-boyfriend is mentioned in passing. Her brother's collectively give Sam the "protective big brother" speech.
Language: Some minor swearing is spelled out and more swearing is implied. The De Lainey father routinely disciplines his children for swearing.
Violence: Sam's childhood memories are filled with neglect and abuse. He sometimes lashes out in frantic defense of others and is injured multiple times throughout the story. Though nothing is graphic, the poetic descriptions may invoke more vivid imagery for readers with good imaginations and sensitive hearts.ima
Religion: The De Lainey's mother was catholic and the children still attend a Catholic school. None of the characters in the story seem to be religious and religion is not discussed outside of the De Lainey's explaining certain family rules that exist out of respect for their mother's faith.
Sammy Lou is 15 and on his way to jail if the police ever catch up to him. He never meant to be this way--punching people and breaking into houses--but how else is he supposed to prevent people from hurting his older, autistic brother and how else is he supposed to get the tiny tastes of home that he so desperately, secretly craves?
And then, one day, his house stealing goes terribly wrong in the most terrifyingly perfect way. He wakes up in a stolen house to find the family home, and they catch him sneaking out. To his astounded shock, though, they all think he belongs, assuming he's one sibling or another's friend. The stolen sense of being wanted is more than Sammy Lou can resist, but it's only a matter of time before it all comes crashing down. He knows that. And he still can't force himself to turn away.
My Thoughts
After I got over the inital surprise of third person, present tense narration this story sucked me in right away. You can't help but feel sympathy for Sam's situation--his desperation to protect his brother, his efforts to ignore his wish for someone to protect him, his dream for a home and all the wrong ways he goes about trying to acheive that dream because there really aren't any other options available to him.
There's some typical MG/YA "lets keep the parents out of the picture as long as possible" storytelling that was both a slight need to suspend disbelief and also, as an older reader, a sense of "please, kids, don't do this at home." If I had read this in my early teens, this element would have been total wish fulfillment, though, even if I knew it wasn't realistic. And I appreciated the depiction of healthy fatherhood and compassionate manhood in Mr. De Lainey, even if he was a bit overly oblivious for the sake of the YA genre.
The word selection in this book was delicious. "He thinks of Moxie and her sewing needles and thimbles and her lemony frown."
I also appreciated that, while the story (rightly so) cast Sam in a sympathetic light and dwelled in the "honeymoon phase" of his introduction to the De Lainey family, it avoided acting like a friendly family and a high school romance could heal a lifetime of abuse and neglect. The ending was textbook for a hope-infused ending that didn't unrealistically solve every probelm.
Content
Romance: Sam finds Moxie attractive (his mental admiration is PG and generally respectful) and, as their friendship progresses, his reactions to her physical proximity are sometimes described. For example, as she's giving him a haircut: "...she goes on, unaware of the explosions happening under her fingertips every time she touches him." Later on in the story, the two cuddle (again, not descriptive) and kiss (not descriptive but frequent). One of Moxie's older brothers is also dating and one brother's ex-boyfriend is mentioned in passing. Her brother's collectively give Sam the "protective big brother" speech.
Language: Some minor swearing is spelled out and more swearing is implied. The De Lainey father routinely disciplines his children for swearing.
Violence: Sam's childhood memories are filled with neglect and abuse. He sometimes lashes out in frantic defense of others and is injured multiple times throughout the story. Though nothing is graphic, the poetic descriptions may invoke more vivid imagery for readers with good imaginations and sensitive hearts.ima
Religion: The De Lainey's mother was catholic and the children still attend a Catholic school. None of the characters in the story seem to be religious and religion is not discussed outside of the De Lainey's explaining certain family rules that exist out of respect for their mother's faith.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, and Abandonment
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Death of parent, and Child abuse
Minor: Cancer, Cursing, and Sexual content
carolinacortez's review
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Ableism
Minor: Cursing and Death of parent
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