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artemishi's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
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
4.5
Breaking down by the CAWPILE system*, for clarity and organization.
Characters: 9, every character had a distinct voice and served a purpose in the overall story while feeling very real. Bonus points for not infantilizing Avery and for avoiding the trope of 'romantic love fixes everything'.
Atmosphere: 9, the setting is contemporary (British? Canadian? Australian?) beach town and it felt familiar enough to be immersive.
Writing Style: 8, will definitely be picking up C.G. Drews' other writing. Some of the stylistic choices lacked punch with redundancy, but that's a very minor complaint.
Plot: 9, a great blend of vulnerable characters and unflinching scars of trauma (including violence), with good pacing and twists that ensured I never quite knew how it would end.
Intrigue: 9, I read it in two days and had a hard time putting it down.
Logic: 8, a few instances of superhuman feats that I wasn't entirely convinced could happen, but was too invested in the story to let that pull me out of it.
Enjoyment: 9, it made me cry (which I usually love) and was consistently enjoyable.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse and Violence
cabeswaren's review
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Blood, Car accident, and Violence
Minor: Death of parent, Vomit, and Medical content
nina777's review
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
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
flordemaga's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
slow-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Violence, Physical abuse, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Ableism
Minor: Vomit and Adult/minor relationship
melaniereadsbooks's review
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Sammy Lou has been on the hunt for one thing since he's been a little kid--a house for him and his autistic brother, Avery; a place they can be warm and safe and happy. But in the meantime, and without a family who will take care of them, Sammy is forced to steal houses until they save up enough money for their own. But when he steals into the De Lainey's house and accidentally spends the day with the chaotic family, everything changes for Sam.
I loved this book with every little piece of my heart. Sammy and Avery are such cinnamon roll characters and I just wanted to give them a mug of hot chocolate and wrap them in a blanket. I also love the De Lainey's, especially Moxie, Jeremy, and their father. What a sweet and wholesome family! And so realistic--not perfect, but perfect for Sam.
Ahh this book is so adorable. And very sad and troubling but also with rays of hope and happiness and humor and the writing is beautiful and I love love loved it so much!
I loved this book with every little piece of my heart. Sammy and Avery are such cinnamon roll characters and I just wanted to give them a mug of hot chocolate and wrap them in a blanket. I also love the De Lainey's, especially Moxie, Jeremy, and their father. What a sweet and wholesome family! And so realistic--not perfect, but perfect for Sam.
Ahh this book is so adorable. And very sad and troubling but also with rays of hope and happiness and humor and the writing is beautiful and I love love loved it so much!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Death of parent, Grief, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Violence and Terminal illness
piperlee's review
emotional
sad
medium-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
4.5
This book is a beautiful and heartbreaking exploration of the relationship between Sammy, a young house thief, and his older brother Avery, who is autistic, and how their need for each other shapes how they exist in their day to day life. Sammy is an “invisible boy” longing to be known and cared for like he does for his brother and in a way his parents refused to. When he accidentally comes across a messy, joyful family, he’s captivated by the feeling of belonging and realizes the rough life he was living before isn’t what he wants. As a sucker for all things found family and fierce sibling relationships, this novel kept me consistently invested in the stories of these two broken and lovable brothers and their search for safety.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Ableism, Child abuse, and Bullying
Moderate: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Toxic relationship
holly_daze_'s review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Bullying, Violence, and Death
Minor: Cancer
beautifulpaxielreads's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Medical content, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Minor: Misogyny
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