Homesick- Kate Klise

Title: Homesick
Author: Klise, Kate
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
ISBN-13: 9781250008428

Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Reading Level: 610 Lexile
Interest Level: 8-12

Readers Annotation: Mom leaves and dad just collects more and more stuff! What can I do?

Plot:
Benny has lived in a home with both of his parents his whole life. His dad has a shop, but does not sell anything from it. One day, Benny's mother reaches her breaking point. They begin to fight about a sliver of wood and his mother leaves. Dad, who has always collected things, begins collecting more and more. What can Benny do? He decides to help a friend with a radio station to try to get out of the house and hopefully help his father. Will everything go back to normal and will mom come home?

Review:
This was a fast read and one I will not forget for a long time. The insider look at hoarding was interesting and to see the child's perspective was enlightening. People see the trauma in the hoarder, but not often in the family who tries to protect the one they love. This book had some comedy mixed in with the serious topics which made it not as heavy. Many tweens could relate to this in some way because Benny did not have control of his situation.

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