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Something Like Home
By Regan McMahon,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Girl faces new home with aunt in gripping novel in verse.
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What's the Story?
SOMETHING LIKE HOME begins with 11-year-old Laura Rodriguez Colon being driven by her Social Services case worker to live with Titi Silvia, an aunt she doesn't know. Bit by bit readers learn that her parents were addicted to drugs and were sent to rehab after Laura called 911 when she found them unresponsive at home in their trailer. She loves her parents and feels guilty for making the call that caused them to be separated. Now she has to adjust to a new home, sixth grade at a new school, and make new friends, none of which she wants to do. She views this all as temporary. And after she finds a dog who needs a home, she gets an idea of how she can reunite with her parents.
Is It Any Good?
This brilliant, compelling story captures the fear, frustration, and hope of a middle schooler torn from the parents she loves who have serious issues of their own. Something Like Home deals with the effects of substance abuse on a family -- and a kid's guilt for having alerted authorities. But her well-drawn mixed emotions ring true and relatable for anyone who's dealt with being the new kid in school, being wary of opening up to new friends, or grappling with adjusting to two homes or new caregivers following divorce.
The first-person, diary-like narrative helps readers be on Laura's side from the get-go. And the novel-in-verse format leaves lots of space on each page, helping the pages fly by. Laura's letters to her parents -- including ones she didn't mail -- add another element of heartfelt emotional truth. The storyline about Laura's found puppy, her descriptions of wild birds' behavior, her communication with seemingly distant Titi Silvia and new friend Benson add more layers to understanding who she is, how she feels, and what she wants. This profound book gets in the heart and head of an 11-year-old facing big challenges, who makes mistakes but is driven by love and hope. Laura's story will linger in readers' hearts and minds long after they close the book.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about all the character strengths Laura shows in Something Like Home. How does she show courage, empathy, compassion, curiosity, perseverance, and gratitude? How do these strengths help her as she navigates her life with her aunt and understanding what's happening with her parents?
How does thinking about how birds behave help Laura think about her own troubles? Have you ever felt like you could relate to creatures in the animal kingdom? What animal do you think you're like?
How does Sparrow, Laura's found dog, help her feel better while living at her aunt's house? What does he give her that she felt was missing?
Have you ever had to adjust to a new living situation or being the new kid at school? How did it feel? What helped you feel OK? Did you eventually feel like you belonged?
Book Details
- Author: Andrea Beatriz Arango
- Genre: Coming of Age
- Topics: Cats, Dogs, and Mice , Friendship , Great Boy Role Models , Great Girl Role Models , Middle School , Science and Nature , Wild Animals
- Character Strengths: Communication , Compassion , Courage , Curiosity , Empathy , Gratitude , Integrity , Perseverance , Self-control , Teamwork
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
- Publication date: September 12, 2023
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 10 - 14
- Number of pages: 243
- Available on: Paperback, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Award: Common Sense Selection
- Last updated: September 29, 2023
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