The Smell of Other People's Houses by Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock

Pages: 223

Intended Audience: Teens

Genre: Real life / Social issues

Notes for Parents: Contains some mature content.

The Back Cover

Four very different lives are about to become entangled.

Ruth has a secret that she can’t hide forever.

Dora wonders if she can ever truly escape where she comes from.

Alyce can’t bring herself to leave the life she’s always known.

Hank and his brothers decide it’s safer to run away.

They live in Alaska, on the cold edge of America, where each one must find the strength, courage, and heart to survive.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

This book was a William C. Morris Award Finalist. It was also a New York Public Library Best 50 Books for Teens selection, a Chicago Public Library Best of the Best book, and a Shelf Awareness Best Teen Books of the Year selection.

What’s good?

This is a beautifully written, visual story about a group of teens living in 1970s Alaska. Their lives are simple but their problems are complex, though recognizable to every generation. As their connections to each other emerge, the story becomes a fascinating tale of friendship, love, survival, and the art of choosing your own family. Tough subjects are covered – death, alcoholism, violence, abuse, poverty – but the story never gets dark. It’s emotional, but always hopeful. Every character is important and every chapter has a purpose. Diversity, culture, and traditions are subtle themes. The ending is heartfelt.

Best Part: The chapter titles. (e.g. “Ballerina Fish Slayer” and “If You Must Smoke, Smoke Salmon”)

What isn’t good?

The book was interesting – quite engrossing, in fact – but there was very little excitement or action. The pace is slow, but steady.

Worst part: Nothing terrible.

Recommendation ☺☺☺☺☻ (4/5)

I can best describe this book as warm and honest. It’s easy to read and easy to understand, and it is to the point with no unnecessary storytelling. It’s a sad but beautiful tale with a hopeful ending. Definitely recommended.

Hitchcock, Bonnie-Sue. The Smell of Other People’s Houses. New York: Ember, 2016.