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House Arrest #1
House Arrest
“Moving . . . Readers will nod their heads in sympathy with this guy who breaks the rules for all of the right reasons.” —The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books A Bank Street College of Education Best Book of the YearIndiana Too Good to Miss State Reading List 2018 Timothy is on probation. It’s a strange word—something that happens to other kids, to delinquents, not to kids like him. And yet, he is under house arrest for the next year. He must check in weekly with a probation officer and a therapist, and keep a journal for an entire year. And mostly, he has to stay out of trouble. But when he must take drastic measures to help his struggling family, staying out of trouble proves more difficult than Timothy ever thought it would be. By turns touching and funny, and always original, House Arrest is a middle grade novel in verse about one boy’s path to redemption as he navigates life with a sick brother, a grieving mother, and one tough probation officer. “This gripping novel in verse evokes a wide variety of emotional responses, as it is serious and funny, thrilling and touching, sweet and snarky.” —School Library Journal “Touches of humor lighten the mood, and Holt’s firsthand knowledge of the subject adds depth to this poignant drama without overwhelming it.” —Publishers Weekly “Readers . . . will appreciate Holt’s lessons of compassion and family above all.” —Booklist “House Arrest will hit home with young boys and girls, especially if they have ever dealt with an ill relative. The story is touching, warm, and impressive.” —Kid Lit Reviews
308 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 6, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,321 reviews
November 15, 2018
This book caught me by surprise in the BEST way. I started House Arrest thinking i'd just read a few pages before bed. Hours later after turning the last page, I found myself with tears streaming down my face, sad that the book was done.
Timothy is a 12 year old boy put under house arrest for stealing a wallet. Those are the facts and you might be thinking - a book about a juvenile delinquent, how good can this be? That's what I was thinking anyway, then you start to read.
It goes by quickly because the writing is done in a simple journal format and some entries are just a few sentences. It took me about 2 hours to read the book. Once you get drawn in, it's pretty instantaneous - you simply start to like Timothy. You see there is so much going on in his life - a sick baby brother, a dad who abandoned the family when things got hard and a mom who is really struggling to keep it all together. Timothy didn't just steal a wallet because he is a delinquent - he was trying to help his family.
As Timothy writes in his court mandated journal (that's basically the book's format - it's his journal) we get an inside peek at what is going on with his family, the people around him (I thoroughly enjoyed the supporting characters in this book) and of course how he feels about everything over the course of the year that the entries take place. What a year it is for Timothy - the entries had me feeling a roller coaster of emotions! I found myself sad, frustrated & angry but then I'd catch myself smiling, feeling hopeful and happy. I don't want to give spoilers, this book should be enjoyed as it unfolds - allow yourself to experience the whirl of emotions and enjoy them all.
Timothy is a 12 year old boy put under house arrest for stealing a wallet. Those are the facts and you might be thinking - a book about a juvenile delinquent, how good can this be? That's what I was thinking anyway, then you start to read.
It goes by quickly because the writing is done in a simple journal format and some entries are just a few sentences. It took me about 2 hours to read the book. Once you get drawn in, it's pretty instantaneous - you simply start to like Timothy. You see there is so much going on in his life - a sick baby brother, a dad who abandoned the family when things got hard and a mom who is really struggling to keep it all together. Timothy didn't just steal a wallet because he is a delinquent - he was trying to help his family.
As Timothy writes in his court mandated journal (that's basically the book's format - it's his journal) we get an inside peek at what is going on with his family, the people around him (I thoroughly enjoyed the supporting characters in this book) and of course how he feels about everything over the course of the year that the entries take place. What a year it is for Timothy - the entries had me feeling a roller coaster of emotions! I found myself sad, frustrated & angry but then I'd catch myself smiling, feeling hopeful and happy. I don't want to give spoilers, this book should be enjoyed as it unfolds - allow yourself to experience the whirl of emotions and enjoy them all.
April 24, 2015
So when I saw Frozen for the first time, I started crying at "Do You Want to Build a Snowman" because I am not the heartless wench I pretend to be, and I literally did not stop crying until the end. Constant crying. Even during that Fixer-upper song.
When I read House Arrest for the first time, I started crying at page 3 and literally did. not. stop. crying. until the end.
And that is where the similarities end. Because Frozen is great and all, but it is no House Arrest.
When I read House Arrest for the first time, I started crying at page 3 and literally did. not. stop. crying. until the end.
And that is where the similarities end. Because Frozen is great and all, but it is no House Arrest.
April 22, 2015
HOUSE ARREST by K.A Holt honestly took me by surprise. I got the arc at TLA, and thought I'd pick it up last night while waiting for dinner to cook. I didn't know that it would capture me entirely, that dinner would be a blur (what did I even make?) and that I would not go to sleep until the final line.
The story, told in verse, is about a 12 year old named Timothy who has gotten himself into some trouble with the law. Not because he's a bad kid, but because he is desperate. Tim's life is such a mess that as a reader your heart can't help but break for him.
I found myself routing for Tim, Timothy, T-Man (don't call him T-Man) in every stanza and turning pages to find out how all his problems would resolve (from a sick baby brother, to an exhausted mother, to the constant threat of juvie, to an absent dad, to a touching crush on the girl down the street, to name a few). Holt does a spot-on job of wrapping up all the storylines in satisfying yet realistic ways.
Holt has found her true calling, writing in verse. Some verses just blew me away, they were so lyrical and evocative, and left me reaching for Kleenex. At other times I was cracking up. Sometimes I was doing both at the same time.
More than anything, this book is a true lesson in empathy, and I am excited for kids to read it. But its not just for middle grade readers. When I finished I told my 16 year old to read it, and I would recommend it to any reader, of any age. I predict this story will be much beloved, in classrooms, and beyond. The only negative is that it doesn't come out until October, and I wish everyone could read it now. It's that good.
The story, told in verse, is about a 12 year old named Timothy who has gotten himself into some trouble with the law. Not because he's a bad kid, but because he is desperate. Tim's life is such a mess that as a reader your heart can't help but break for him.
I found myself routing for Tim, Timothy, T-Man (don't call him T-Man) in every stanza and turning pages to find out how all his problems would resolve (from a sick baby brother, to an exhausted mother, to the constant threat of juvie, to an absent dad, to a touching crush on the girl down the street, to name a few). Holt does a spot-on job of wrapping up all the storylines in satisfying yet realistic ways.
Holt has found her true calling, writing in verse. Some verses just blew me away, they were so lyrical and evocative, and left me reaching for Kleenex. At other times I was cracking up. Sometimes I was doing both at the same time.
More than anything, this book is a true lesson in empathy, and I am excited for kids to read it. But its not just for middle grade readers. When I finished I told my 16 year old to read it, and I would recommend it to any reader, of any age. I predict this story will be much beloved, in classrooms, and beyond. The only negative is that it doesn't come out until October, and I wish everyone could read it now. It's that good.
February 12, 2024
✰ 3.5 stars ✰
“I was trying to help,
that’s all.
But it was the opposite of help,
and I know that now.
I’m not sorry, though.
If you’re wondering.
I’m just sorry I got caught.
Because it would have helped.
It would have.”
Desperate times call for desperate measures. And perhaps nothing can be more cause for desperate action than when you see a family member in pain and you want to do everything in your power to help them - no matter the consequences. And for twelve-year-old Timothy, nothing tested his moral compass more than when he swiped a wallet at a grocery store - all in the hopes that he could ease a bit of his mother's worries, as they cope with the increasingly alarming medical bills and intensive treatment for Levi, his baby brother. 'I will never know what I was thinking when I stole that wallet, because I wasn’t thinking.' And when he's put on probation, appointed by the court to keep a journal for a year, writing out his thoughts, it's the courage to find a glimmer of hope in the crippling dark is the strength that keeps him going. Written in verse, K.A. Holt's middle grade novel House Arrest is a touching and moving story of the lengths we go to, to care for the ones we love. 😥
“Feelings, feelings, feelings.
How is it that
I can have so many feelings
that they all swirl together
until I feel so much all at one time
that it’s almost like I feel
nothing at all? ”
The power of poetry is the ability to evoke so much feeling with limited words - at an almost cadence that allows you to have the emotions of the narrator just as palpable as if they were written in detail. 💔💔 My heart ached for Timothy's challenges and the anger and overwhelming love he had for his family - the fierce desperation that he was trying so hard to help them - the frustration of not being enough - that providing money is not in his hands - the ability to find a cure for his brother is something out of his reach - but his ability to try - to care - had no limits. 'And I swear to you if anyone tries to take him away/ I will risk juvie to keep him out of that place, that facility.' And he tried. 😢 He tried really hard and he felt just as much while doing so. It probably would not have achieved the level of aching and desperation had it been detailed in prose - how Timothy knew he wasn't able to care for Levi - helpless at the mercy of his caregivers - and still trying to make them realize that how much help is enough.
Journals are something deeply personal and intimate. It reminded me of back in third grade, when my teacher, Mr.Paul gave our class the assignment to keep a journal over the school year; and how of we ever wished to write something personal, all we had to do was add a P to the start of the entry, so that he would know NOT to read it. 🥲 The one time I did do that, he called my parents. To this day, even when his family moved back to Wisconsin, he is still my favorite teacher. I could never get over that betrayal of trust when I came home and my parents talked to me about it, but just knowing that he cared enough to be concerned about it - it mattered to me. 🙏🏻🙏🏻
And for Timothy this was something that greatly helped him. Even though it's court-appointed requirement, it's such a great way to break the fourth wall - how he can address the audience, as if we were reading just over his shoulder - how he can communicate his thoughts with his presiding elders.and lets him feel that he's not alone in his struggles - that as much as these inside comments can be challenging at times, it is with this awareness that they will read it. 😅 Almost in the hopes that underneath his visible frustration and troublesome quips, is the need for guidance that only they can provide. 'I don’t feel like I’ve broken through anything, though. Really. Maybe some things have broken through me?' It's cathartic and therapeutic and I think it's something he really needed - a grown-up hand that he couldn't burden too much his mother with and what he lost when his father bailed on his family, upon realizing how sickly his youngest son was. 😞
“Don’t you think it’s OK
to cry uncle sometimes?
To ask for help?
Otherwise you’re just crying.
And how does that help anyone?”
It is said that charity begins at home. It takes nerve and abandonment of pride to reach out for help; having that part included here was such a heavy one. Timothy's conflicting thoughts on that were such a challenge to read about, because he didn't want to show how much they needed help in the fear of offending his mother. I loved his best friend's family, that you don't need to ask for help to receive it. People are generous with their love, their kindness, their understanding. 'I didn’t have the heart to tell her she’s mistaking bravery for flat-out desperation.' And despite how palpable and believable a burden it is to him and his mother, how it is eventually solved was both touching as it was heart-warming. 🥹
But, so, too, was his anger and rage over his helplessness over everything in his life was heart-wrenching. Is it that unchanneled rage over abandonment that was something he wasn't able to overcome? I think so, and honestly, rightfully so. 'Because I didn’t want Dad to hate me. Maybe I am a nutjob. Oh, great, now I’m crying, too. I hate this journal.' I could sense that the author was trying to show that all his pain was a cover-up for the pain of his father's actions, but it didn't quite reach me or work well for me. I wasn't too keen on how it ended, because I do believe that part of his life needed to be addressed a bit more. 😒 To give some reasoning for his father's actions that even constituted for any sense of redemption or forgiveness, because, honestly, I don't think he deserves it. And then to have it end so abruptly on that notion made it feel like such a disservice for everything else that had taken place - for all that Timothy worked so hard to achieve on his own. 😔
“She thinks he needs more care than we can give him.
I give him ALL my cares!
The only thing I can care about is Levi!
And it’s the same with Mom.
I know it.
If you could die from caring too much, she would.”
For it is his love for his younger brother, Levi, that shines throughout. That aching desire to be the older brother that he could be - to think that he can shoulder all the responsibility and know how to treat him - to have him learn the ways to communicate with him - live up to be his brother - not lose him to a facility caregiving, when he believes in his heart - there is someone out there - who can help him. 🥺 'He’s just a boy, yes, but he loves his brother very much.' Those parts moved me to tears and showed the beauty of verse, that less can be more, and still capture his affections so very deeply, in a beautiful and loving way. So much joy and love and heart in those scenes - how hard he tries for his little brother to get the proper health and care he needs in order to live - he would do anything for him - no matter what the consequences may be. ❤️🩹❤️🩹
“I was trying to help,
that’s all.
But it was the opposite of help,
and I know that now.
I’m not sorry, though.
If you’re wondering.
I’m just sorry I got caught.
Because it would have helped.
It would have.”
Desperate times call for desperate measures. And perhaps nothing can be more cause for desperate action than when you see a family member in pain and you want to do everything in your power to help them - no matter the consequences. And for twelve-year-old Timothy, nothing tested his moral compass more than when he swiped a wallet at a grocery store - all in the hopes that he could ease a bit of his mother's worries, as they cope with the increasingly alarming medical bills and intensive treatment for Levi, his baby brother. 'I will never know what I was thinking when I stole that wallet, because I wasn’t thinking.' And when he's put on probation, appointed by the court to keep a journal for a year, writing out his thoughts, it's the courage to find a glimmer of hope in the crippling dark is the strength that keeps him going. Written in verse, K.A. Holt's middle grade novel House Arrest is a touching and moving story of the lengths we go to, to care for the ones we love. 😥
“Feelings, feelings, feelings.
How is it that
I can have so many feelings
that they all swirl together
until I feel so much all at one time
that it’s almost like I feel
nothing at all? ”
The power of poetry is the ability to evoke so much feeling with limited words - at an almost cadence that allows you to have the emotions of the narrator just as palpable as if they were written in detail. 💔💔 My heart ached for Timothy's challenges and the anger and overwhelming love he had for his family - the fierce desperation that he was trying so hard to help them - the frustration of not being enough - that providing money is not in his hands - the ability to find a cure for his brother is something out of his reach - but his ability to try - to care - had no limits. 'And I swear to you if anyone tries to take him away/ I will risk juvie to keep him out of that place, that facility.' And he tried. 😢 He tried really hard and he felt just as much while doing so. It probably would not have achieved the level of aching and desperation had it been detailed in prose - how Timothy knew he wasn't able to care for Levi - helpless at the mercy of his caregivers - and still trying to make them realize that how much help is enough.
Journals are something deeply personal and intimate. It reminded me of back in third grade, when my teacher, Mr.Paul gave our class the assignment to keep a journal over the school year; and how of we ever wished to write something personal, all we had to do was add a P to the start of the entry, so that he would know NOT to read it. 🥲 The one time I did do that, he called my parents. To this day, even when his family moved back to Wisconsin, he is still my favorite teacher. I could never get over that betrayal of trust when I came home and my parents talked to me about it, but just knowing that he cared enough to be concerned about it - it mattered to me. 🙏🏻🙏🏻
And for Timothy this was something that greatly helped him. Even though it's court-appointed requirement, it's such a great way to break the fourth wall - how he can address the audience, as if we were reading just over his shoulder - how he can communicate his thoughts with his presiding elders.and lets him feel that he's not alone in his struggles - that as much as these inside comments can be challenging at times, it is with this awareness that they will read it. 😅 Almost in the hopes that underneath his visible frustration and troublesome quips, is the need for guidance that only they can provide. 'I don’t feel like I’ve broken through anything, though. Really. Maybe some things have broken through me?' It's cathartic and therapeutic and I think it's something he really needed - a grown-up hand that he couldn't burden too much his mother with and what he lost when his father bailed on his family, upon realizing how sickly his youngest son was. 😞
“Don’t you think it’s OK
to cry uncle sometimes?
To ask for help?
Otherwise you’re just crying.
And how does that help anyone?”
It is said that charity begins at home. It takes nerve and abandonment of pride to reach out for help; having that part included here was such a heavy one. Timothy's conflicting thoughts on that were such a challenge to read about, because he didn't want to show how much they needed help in the fear of offending his mother. I loved his best friend's family, that you don't need to ask for help to receive it. People are generous with their love, their kindness, their understanding. 'I didn’t have the heart to tell her she’s mistaking bravery for flat-out desperation.' And despite how palpable and believable a burden it is to him and his mother, how it is eventually solved was both touching as it was heart-warming. 🥹
But, so, too, was his anger and rage over his helplessness over everything in his life was heart-wrenching. Is it that unchanneled rage over abandonment that was something he wasn't able to overcome? I think so, and honestly, rightfully so. 'Because I didn’t want Dad to hate me. Maybe I am a nutjob. Oh, great, now I’m crying, too. I hate this journal.' I could sense that the author was trying to show that all his pain was a cover-up for the pain of his father's actions, but it didn't quite reach me or work well for me. I wasn't too keen on how it ended, because I do believe that part of his life needed to be addressed a bit more. 😒 To give some reasoning for his father's actions that even constituted for any sense of redemption or forgiveness, because, honestly, I don't think he deserves it. And then to have it end so abruptly on that notion made it feel like such a disservice for everything else that had taken place - for all that Timothy worked so hard to achieve on his own. 😔
“She thinks he needs more care than we can give him.
I give him ALL my cares!
The only thing I can care about is Levi!
And it’s the same with Mom.
I know it.
If you could die from caring too much, she would.”
For it is his love for his younger brother, Levi, that shines throughout. That aching desire to be the older brother that he could be - to think that he can shoulder all the responsibility and know how to treat him - to have him learn the ways to communicate with him - live up to be his brother - not lose him to a facility caregiving, when he believes in his heart - there is someone out there - who can help him. 🥺 'He’s just a boy, yes, but he loves his brother very much.' Those parts moved me to tears and showed the beauty of verse, that less can be more, and still capture his affections so very deeply, in a beautiful and loving way. So much joy and love and heart in those scenes - how hard he tries for his little brother to get the proper health and care he needs in order to live - he would do anything for him - no matter what the consequences may be. ❤️🩹❤️🩹
December 1, 2019
Jona's rating = 5
Made me so sad, I didn't think I wanted to read anymore but I was drawn to it. I am glad I finished it; it was a great reminder that every single student has a burden...some, like Timothy, have far more on their plates than they can handle. As a human, my heart especially ached for Kevin and Levi's mom which is also a great reminder that all humans carry burdens as well.
Joslyn's rating = 3
Made me so sad, I didn't think I wanted to read anymore but I was drawn to it. I am glad I finished it; it was a great reminder that every single student has a burden...some, like Timothy, have far more on their plates than they can handle. As a human, my heart especially ached for Kevin and Levi's mom which is also a great reminder that all humans carry burdens as well.
Joslyn's rating = 3
November 30, 2017
House arrest is really heartfelt and a deep book. I gave it only 3 stars, because I didn’t enjoy the ending. In my opinion the ending looked unfinished. However, the rest of the book was really good.
May 16, 2016
I like reading about family.
I like reading about a kid who despite his/her age fights tooth and nail for his/her family.
I like reading about the good people who helped that kid, on their own way.
That kind of stories might left me in tears sometimes but also gave me warm feeling inside.
Timothy is twelve and he steal a credit card to buy medicines for his sick baby brother.
The court ordered him to write a journal so he's not going to juvie.
And through Tim's journal this heartbreaking story about Tim and the good people who helped him flows.
I'm still thinking about Tim, his sick baby brother Levi, James the though probation officer, Ms. B the psychologist, Jose's family, hours after finished it.
I like reading about a kid who despite his/her age fights tooth and nail for his/her family.
I like reading about the good people who helped that kid, on their own way.
That kind of stories might left me in tears sometimes but also gave me warm feeling inside.
Timothy is twelve and he steal a credit card to buy medicines for his sick baby brother.
The court ordered him to write a journal so he's not going to juvie.
And through Tim's journal this heartbreaking story about Tim and the good people who helped him flows.
I'm still thinking about Tim, his sick baby brother Levi, James the though probation officer, Ms. B the psychologist, Jose's family, hours after finished it.
July 11, 2015
Timothy may be on house arrest for stealing a wallet but he stole my heart on page one in this achingly lovely verse novel about the love and devotion of a brother.
November 27, 2018
I enjoyed this book a lot! This book is in a format of a journal. It's about a younger brother and an older brother. Levi (younger brother) is very sick and his mom is a single mom that is struggling money wise. So levis older brother took actions into his own hands and stole medicine to make Levi better. He felt relieved but a few hours after the police came and took him. He then was sentenced to 1 year in juvie and had to write in a journal while he was serving his time. Then his mom could not afford the girl how takes care of Levi. Things get rough for everyone in the house. He finds a doctor who might be able to help Levi but never replies. Things get better though they raise money for Levi to help him get better. Then Levis older brother does something to help Levi from not dying and gets into more trouble.
February 27, 2019
This book was a little slow for me. I didn't feel there was enough action to keep me going. I am glad I made it through though because I think this book had a meaningful lesson about life. It teaches you that everyone almost always does something for a reason and that you shouldn't assume someone's character based on their mistakes. I would say this is a fairly quick read if you're motivated enough to want to finish it. This book is poetry also.
April 7, 2020
Beautiful story and wonderfully written. This is a touching and loving story of a young boy and the people involved in his life. Its very sweet and worth reading. I highly recommend to all my friends.
March 30, 2022
When I was a kid, people would encourage deeper thinking by asking, “Is it wrong to steal a loaf of bread if your family is starving?”
That question was brought back to my mind at the beginning of this beautifully-written middle grades book. The main character is put on house arrest after stealing a wallet to pay for his baby brother’s medicine. The story is told through a daily journal he is ordered to keep during a year of house arrest. My sympathy and love for the main character grew until I could hardly bear it. Encourage your kids to read this book—and read it yourself. What a wonderful experience it was!
The audio version was wonderfully done.
That question was brought back to my mind at the beginning of this beautifully-written middle grades book. The main character is put on house arrest after stealing a wallet to pay for his baby brother’s medicine. The story is told through a daily journal he is ordered to keep during a year of house arrest. My sympathy and love for the main character grew until I could hardly bear it. Encourage your kids to read this book—and read it yourself. What a wonderful experience it was!
The audio version was wonderfully done.
August 29, 2016
Thanks to Abrams & Chronicle for sending me a copy of this book for a review. However, this doesn't affect my opinion.
This one was a bit hard for me to read. But not because it was boring. It was super interesting. But because the things happening in this book are someone's reality and someone's reality is even worse than that, so I felt sad while reading this book, while the ending made me happy. This book was also a very fast one to read, because of the way it's written. It looks like poetry, but it's not. It is very cool. I loved the characters, but I loved Mary the least. I know, she was trying to help Timothy and his family, but she just didn't seem like a person I would like. My favorite characters were Timothy and Levi, and even though Timothy may seem like a very problematic kid, he just wants to help his little brother and his family. The story was wonderful, it was unique and very easy to get into. I definitely think that this book should be read in schools because it shows children how life isn't perfect, and sometimes we have to fight. All in all, I love this book and it is amazing!
This one was a bit hard for me to read. But not because it was boring. It was super interesting. But because the things happening in this book are someone's reality and someone's reality is even worse than that, so I felt sad while reading this book, while the ending made me happy. This book was also a very fast one to read, because of the way it's written. It looks like poetry, but it's not. It is very cool. I loved the characters, but I loved Mary the least. I know, she was trying to help Timothy and his family, but she just didn't seem like a person I would like. My favorite characters were Timothy and Levi, and even though Timothy may seem like a very problematic kid, he just wants to help his little brother and his family. The story was wonderful, it was unique and very easy to get into. I definitely think that this book should be read in schools because it shows children how life isn't perfect, and sometimes we have to fight. All in all, I love this book and it is amazing!
November 23, 2015
I don't know why there is not more buzz about this amazing book. Timothy makes a spur of the moment choice in order to help his brother who has health problems, and he ends up under house arrest. He writes in this journal for his counselor and probation officer, and we get to see straight path to his heart through his words. Amazing book! I will be shouting about this one for quite awhile.
November 6, 2015
I love the story behind the story, but oh how I wished for a different ending...
February 18, 2020
House Arrest is a beautifully written book which follows a young lad who is caught stealing a wallet (with the best of intentions) and sentenced to house arrest. It takes the form of a journal, and is written as such, which he is required to write as mandated by the court.
The story is really sweet - the young lad is just trying to do his best to help his family, who are struggling with multiple different things; a sick younger brother, a cruel carer, an overworked Mother and an absentee Dad. It's a lot for a 12 year old boy to deal with.
This was quite an emotional ride, right from the outset. The subject matter is an unpleasant one at the best of times, but when we consider that it's written from the point of view of such a young child, it really does make your heart ache. The author does a good job of making you FEEL.
For some reason, I found that this book was lacking something. I can't quite put my finger on it, but it definitely wasn't a 5 star for me, which is frustrating because the plot was so heartwrenching that I feel cold giving it only 3 stars. Maybe I'm a soulless monster, who knows? Either way, I liked the book well enough, it was just a little on the average side for me.
The story is really sweet - the young lad is just trying to do his best to help his family, who are struggling with multiple different things; a sick younger brother, a cruel carer, an overworked Mother and an absentee Dad. It's a lot for a 12 year old boy to deal with.
This was quite an emotional ride, right from the outset. The subject matter is an unpleasant one at the best of times, but when we consider that it's written from the point of view of such a young child, it really does make your heart ache. The author does a good job of making you FEEL.
For some reason, I found that this book was lacking something. I can't quite put my finger on it, but it definitely wasn't a 5 star for me, which is frustrating because the plot was so heartwrenching that I feel cold giving it only 3 stars. Maybe I'm a soulless monster, who knows? Either way, I liked the book well enough, it was just a little on the average side for me.
February 26, 2023
I have been crying out for a 5 star read lately & House Arrest delivered. 🙌
This book is written as a journal of a 12 year old boy who is on juvenile probation after stealing a credit card to get medicine for his ill baby brother for his mother who is struggling to make ends meet. Timothy is an absolute warrior on a mission to prove he’s not a bad kid, while willing to do absolutely anything to keep his family together after his father jumps ship.
I love a well-written diary style book and this felt like such personal writing, I was totally engrossed. I loved the main character and I could visualise side characters even though I was only given a child’s perspective of them. This book made me ache and had me rooting for Timothy the entire time.
I absolutely recommend if you’re looking for a quick read with heart! 🫶
This book is written as a journal of a 12 year old boy who is on juvenile probation after stealing a credit card to get medicine for his ill baby brother for his mother who is struggling to make ends meet. Timothy is an absolute warrior on a mission to prove he’s not a bad kid, while willing to do absolutely anything to keep his family together after his father jumps ship.
I love a well-written diary style book and this felt like such personal writing, I was totally engrossed. I loved the main character and I could visualise side characters even though I was only given a child’s perspective of them. This book made me ache and had me rooting for Timothy the entire time.
I absolutely recommend if you’re looking for a quick read with heart! 🫶
May 12, 2021
A touching story told in a unique way. The journal format seemed odd at first, but it was amazing how well the characterisation managed to shine through in it.
The pacing was great and it really highlighted the slow but sure character growth of the protagonist. I only wish it hasn’t ended so abruptly, I felt like there was so much more I wanted to know about what happened to Timothy next. I suppose I could always read Knockout to find out but I’m not sure if I’ll like it being focused on Levi instead of Tim. Well, there’s only one way to find out!
The pacing was great and it really highlighted the slow but sure character growth of the protagonist. I only wish it hasn’t ended so abruptly, I felt like there was so much more I wanted to know about what happened to Timothy next. I suppose I could always read Knockout to find out but I’m not sure if I’ll like it being focused on Levi instead of Tim. Well, there’s only one way to find out!
June 19, 2020
CW: Father abandons family, physically unwell child, unkind nurse.
A heartfelt verse novel about 12 year old Timothy who is caught after stealing a wallet. We are told the story through the court mandated journal entries that he writes over the course of his year under house arrest. Timothy loves his unwell infant brother, Levi, so deeply that he stole the wallet in order to help pay for Levi’s life-saving medicine. This is a beautifully written and moving story that drew me in and I desperately wanted things to work out for the family. I adored James. Everyone needs a 'James' in their lives. The bittersweet ending left a tear in my eye. A wonderful middle school novel.
A heartfelt verse novel about 12 year old Timothy who is caught after stealing a wallet. We are told the story through the court mandated journal entries that he writes over the course of his year under house arrest. Timothy loves his unwell infant brother, Levi, so deeply that he stole the wallet in order to help pay for Levi’s life-saving medicine. This is a beautifully written and moving story that drew me in and I desperately wanted things to work out for the family. I adored James. Everyone needs a 'James' in their lives. The bittersweet ending left a tear in my eye. A wonderful middle school novel.
May 5, 2018
Finished in one sitting. Loved everything about this book- that it was a journal written in verse, the characters, and the bravery of these brothers and their community. I hope my boys care for each other in ways like these brothers do! I loved that it exposed a scenario that reveals the best and worst of people, in unexpected ways. Just because someone is on probation or a nurse, that doesn’t make them either villains or heroes! And just being a neighbor who genuinely cares is heroic in itself! So many feels. Loved it.
December 10, 2015
It's not often, as a middle school librarian, that I read a book that is pitch perfect, that doesn't miss a note. K. A. Holt's beautifully written, insightful, engaging novel of a family struggling with an ill child, through the perspective of the big brother's journal, is an amazing, uplifting experience. Thank you!
October 7, 2016
Timothy
on house arrest
because his brother needed the medicine
writes his journal.
Shares his pain
desperation
fear
and love.
Powerful
from the minute you read
the first line
right to the very end.
on house arrest
because his brother needed the medicine
writes his journal.
Shares his pain
desperation
fear
and love.
Powerful
from the minute you read
the first line
right to the very end.
February 20, 2018
Add this to your list of must read verse novels. You'll feel the anger Timothy feels, and fall in love with his little brother Levi. This book would create some great ethical discussions in your classrooms too.
March 19, 2018
Great story, but this one left me sad at the end. I was hoping to see more of a conclusion, but sometimes one day at a time is all that can be seen and read about. How fitting...
July 19, 2018
Powerful. Loved it. And for the first time, I actually enjoyed a book written in verse!
January 16, 2021
I loved this book because it made me feel a little touched when Timmy decided to break out of the house, take his friend's dad's car and drove him all the way to the ambulance and managed to save his brother. In the end he had to go to juvenile jail, but got to meet his long lost father. From reading this scene, I learnt that love means sacrificing your self for the greater good of others. This book is a window book because I know how it feels like to be house arrested. A really cool fact about this book is that the main character Timmy was actually stealing money for meds, not for buying video games or toys.
April 14, 2022
Read for bookclub :)
It was pretty cute
also needed a quick book because my reading challenge isfailing falling behind
It was pretty cute
also needed a quick book because my reading challenge is
October 29, 2019
This verse novel is about Timothy and his sick baby brother, Levi. Timothy has stolen a credit card to buy medicine for Levi and is subsequently sentenced to a year of home detention. The story is Timothy's journal and it's about his relationships with the people around him - his probation officer, his psychologist, his mum, the nurses who look after Levi, his friend's family. It's also about his love for Levi and his desire to help him in any way that he can. I thought this was a really great story, full of empathy. I'd be keen to read the follow up - Knock Out - which is Levi's story when he's quite a bit older.
February 1, 2018
When I first picked up House Arrest, I thought it was just gonna be another short, cheesy book. But, as I started to read it, I realised I could not stop reading page after page. This book was diffidently a five out of five star read. I was immediately swept into the lives of Timothy, the main character, and his dysfunctional family.
There are moments when you are hanging on to see what comes next, times when all you can do is pity the characters, and mostly, times when you can’t help but smile.
This book was wonderfully written as journal entries, filled with sassy comments, and sweet moments. Each chapter flowed perfectly into another, making it impossible to put down.
House Arrest by K.A. Holt is a bittersweet, short, realistic fiction novel about a young boy risking his life as a normal teenager for his sick baby brother. Timothy steals a wallet of a man while running errands, and spends most of the money on medicine for his sweet baby brother. Unfortunately, it's apparently pretty hard to get away with stealing a credit card that's not yours, so the next thing he knew, Tim was sentenced to a year of house arrest, and forced to write in a journal--which Tim hates most of all.
Even on house arrest, Tim does not stop fighting for his brother and mom--even if it means spending time in juvie. And during a breath holding scene, he shows how much he really cares about his brother. Pushing to save his family, Timothy is relentless, and won't stop working until he sees the results,the miracle, they need the most.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a quick read filled with family, love, bravery, sadness, and much joy. This is possibly one of my favorite books I have read this year.
There are moments when you are hanging on to see what comes next, times when all you can do is pity the characters, and mostly, times when you can’t help but smile.
This book was wonderfully written as journal entries, filled with sassy comments, and sweet moments. Each chapter flowed perfectly into another, making it impossible to put down.
House Arrest by K.A. Holt is a bittersweet, short, realistic fiction novel about a young boy risking his life as a normal teenager for his sick baby brother. Timothy steals a wallet of a man while running errands, and spends most of the money on medicine for his sweet baby brother. Unfortunately, it's apparently pretty hard to get away with stealing a credit card that's not yours, so the next thing he knew, Tim was sentenced to a year of house arrest, and forced to write in a journal--which Tim hates most of all.
Even on house arrest, Tim does not stop fighting for his brother and mom--even if it means spending time in juvie. And during a breath holding scene, he shows how much he really cares about his brother. Pushing to save his family, Timothy is relentless, and won't stop working until he sees the results,the miracle, they need the most.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a quick read filled with family, love, bravery, sadness, and much joy. This is possibly one of my favorite books I have read this year.
August 1, 2019
Let me start off by saying that this book is heartbreaking, a tear-jerker, and realistic. It's about love, doubt, unanswerable questions we have in life, and it's just a really well-written book!
Timothy is one of those boys who did something wrong, but the "right" reason. He has a newborn brother named Levi who was born with a life threatening illness in which he's unable to thrive. Timothy is just a little 12 year old boy who the author created so vividly and realistically that you forget he's not real. He has genuine emotions, honest questions, deep empathy, bitterness, pain, betrayal, and so much that no child should have to go through.
Because of Timothy's crime he committed, he is give a year's sentence of house arrest, and during that time he is court ordered to write in a journal daily in hopes that he'll learn his lesson, it will be cathartic, and he'll become a better person. I love the journal writing and that Ms. Holt chose to use that as this boy's punishment. I personally think writing can be so healing in nature and can help someone get things off their chest that they can't in other ways.
I love this boy and his heart. What he goes through, how he handles having a therapist, CPS worker, a probation officer who constantly threatens him with juvie, and how he deals with Levi's life/death struggle when even adults have a difficult time handling. Timothy has my heart.
Timothy is one of those boys who did something wrong, but the "right" reason. He has a newborn brother named Levi who was born with a life threatening illness in which he's unable to thrive. Timothy is just a little 12 year old boy who the author created so vividly and realistically that you forget he's not real. He has genuine emotions, honest questions, deep empathy, bitterness, pain, betrayal, and so much that no child should have to go through.
Because of Timothy's crime he committed, he is give a year's sentence of house arrest, and during that time he is court ordered to write in a journal daily in hopes that he'll learn his lesson, it will be cathartic, and he'll become a better person. I love the journal writing and that Ms. Holt chose to use that as this boy's punishment. I personally think writing can be so healing in nature and can help someone get things off their chest that they can't in other ways.
I love this boy and his heart. What he goes through, how he handles having a therapist, CPS worker, a probation officer who constantly threatens him with juvie, and how he deals with Levi's life/death struggle when even adults have a difficult time handling. Timothy has my heart.
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