Genre: young adult fiction, bildungsroman
Key Stage: Upper KS3/4 (contains references to more mature content including parental abandonment, death and grief)
Rating: ★★★★★
The Smell of Other People’s Houses, Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock (2016)
Set in snowy, 1970’s Alaska, you follow the heartfelt stories of four young people as they come to terms with their life: Ruth, Dora, Alyce and Hank- each with their own tale to tell but beautifully intertwined in one way or another.
I really enjoyed reading this book; it reminded me a lot of John Green’s writing because of that YA-kind-of-sense, but also quite unique and exceptional, unlike anything else I’ve read. It involves runaways, a teen pregnancy, strained family tension, foster families- and what it’s like, growing up in the icy wilderness of Alaska. Another interesting point is how the olfactory sense (smell) is highlighted throughout; the book is called ‘The Smell of Other People’s Houses’!
I’d also highly recommend reading Hitchcock’s other book: ‘Everyone Dies Famous in a Small Town’.
Reviewer: Muslimah, Year 9