Scan barcode
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
wjb11's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
While I did enjoy this book, it gives (especially the beginning) a very much big vibe of I hate my autistic sibling they are the cause of all my problems, and as an autistic person that made me angry and anxious that my siblings hated me for that
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Abandonment, Child abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Ableism, Injury/Injury detail, and Bullying
sameeha_r05's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Child abuse, Cancer, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Death of parent, and Blood
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Violence
elenabluenette's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Child abuse, Abandonment, Blood, Ableism, Physical abuse, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Bullying and Medical content
Minor: Vomit
auteaandtales's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Bullying, Abandonment, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Self harm, Cancer, Car accident, Drug use, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, and Misogyny
durrareadsstuff's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Those last few chapters were PURE PAIN I COULDN'T SEE THROUGH MY TEARS WOW. Once I get over how sad it was I'll write a more detailed review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Violence, and Child abuse
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Drug use
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
nina777's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.25
I expected a bit more but solid book
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Ableism, Child abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Death of parent
rachel_here's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I first heard about The Boy Who Steals Houses back when it was still a work-in-progress. C.G. Drews described it on her blog as "a genderbent Goldilocks retelling" and I knew I had to read it when it came out.
The story follows 15-years-old Sam and his autistic older brother Avery as they try to survive by themselves after having been abandoned by every family member they've ever had. Fleeing from physical and emotional abuse, as well as his mistakes from the past, Sam frequently breaks into houses when their owners are away to have a place to stay. Despite his circumstances, he dreams of one day buying a house for himself and his Avery, a place they can both call home.
That is, of course, until the day Sam gets caught when one big, chaotic family comes home early- except each sibling assumes he's friends with another sibling, and Sam has to keep up the charade until he can get away. But is it even possible to distance yourself from the De Lainey's when you're starved of love and warmth? Would Sam risk coming back for more, even if it means having the ugly truth revealed and facing the consequences?
This novel is one of, if not my favorite YA book. The story itself could be seen as low-key, but the stakes feel as high as a save-the-universe scenario. And that is because of this book's greatest strength: its characters. As the main character, Sam is a complex but incredibly loveable kid, who has deep flaws but who wants to do better- for his sake and his brother's. Him and Avery in particular feel alive beyond the page, and it feels like the reader is irrupting in their life at a crucial point. From the very first line I couldn't help but feel this was the end of Sam's runaway life, and it filled me with both dread and hope.
Because at its heart, this is a story about redemption, finding love, and breaking the cycle of abuse. It is emotional; it isn't sugar coated, and consequences aren't swept under the rug just because you root for the main character. At the same time, the story is filled with (waffles 🧇), warmth and humour: the De Lainey family is a bundle of sunshine and even if they have their issues, you can't help but want to spend more time in their company. The story is a great balance of lighthearted and tense, funny and sad, and it is all around hopeful. I highly recommend it!
The story follows 15-years-old Sam and his autistic older brother Avery as they try to survive by themselves after having been abandoned by every family member they've ever had. Fleeing from physical and emotional abuse, as well as his mistakes from the past, Sam frequently breaks into houses when their owners are away to have a place to stay. Despite his circumstances, he dreams of one day buying a house for himself and his Avery, a place they can both call home.
That is, of course, until the day Sam gets caught when one big, chaotic family comes home early- except each sibling assumes he's friends with another sibling, and Sam has to keep up the charade until he can get away. But is it even possible to distance yourself from the De Lainey's when you're starved of love and warmth? Would Sam risk coming back for more, even if it means having the ugly truth revealed and facing the consequences?
This novel is one of, if not my favorite YA book. The story itself could be seen as low-key, but the stakes feel as high as a save-the-universe scenario. And that is because of this book's greatest strength: its characters. As the main character, Sam is a complex but incredibly loveable kid, who has deep flaws but who wants to do better- for his sake and his brother's. Him and Avery in particular feel alive beyond the page, and it feels like the reader is irrupting in their life at a crucial point. From the very first line I couldn't help but feel this was the end of Sam's runaway life, and it filled me with both dread and hope.
Because at its heart, this is a story about redemption, finding love, and breaking the cycle of abuse. It is emotional; it isn't sugar coated, and consequences aren't swept under the rug just because you root for the main character. At the same time, the story is filled with (waffles 🧇), warmth and humour: the De Lainey family is a bundle of sunshine and even if they have their issues, you can't help but want to spend more time in their company. The story is a great balance of lighthearted and tense, funny and sad, and it is all around hopeful. I highly recommend it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Physical abuse, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Abandonment, Ableism, and Emotional abuse
More...