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The House at 758
Sixteen year old Krista is still grieving the untimely death of her mother when her father's new girlfriend moves into their home. He's already moved on and wants Krista to do the same, but she's not ready to resume a normal life yet. Distancing herself from those around her, Krista spends all of her time obsessively watching a mysterious house, the house at 758.
When a fellow classmate, Jake, takes a sudden interest in her, Krista feels excited for the first time in two years, but feelings of guilt consume her, and she ends up pushing Jake away. It isn't until her grandfather makes a surprise visit from Venezuela that Krista is finally able to confront her grief and begin to let things go.
When a fellow classmate, Jake, takes a sudden interest in her, Krista feels excited for the first time in two years, but feelings of guilt consume her, and she ends up pushing Jake away. It isn't until her grandfather makes a surprise visit from Venezuela that Krista is finally able to confront her grief and begin to let things go.
250 pages, Paperback
First published February 13, 2014
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September 2, 2017
This review is also on my blog illbefinealonereads
Coming of age stories are always an interesting read. They can either be the best books of the year, or tricky to consume. Up until I started reading this book, I had never met a coming of age story that was somewhere in the middle.
The House at 758 contains a side of the coming of age trope that we don’t get to see often, a somewhat unexplored theme. It’s backing that theme up with well-written characters, fluid writing, and interesting plot points. And then something unexpected begins: we get to see useless things happen. We get to see unnecessary plot points and dialogue, one of the few flaws this book has, but it affects it in a major way.
It’s a quick read, and the writing is incredible. It’s not a bad book, but few moments in it took away from my overall impression.
*Copy received through NetGalley
*Actual rating: 3.5/5 stars
Coming of age stories are always an interesting read. They can either be the best books of the year, or tricky to consume. Up until I started reading this book, I had never met a coming of age story that was somewhere in the middle.
The House at 758 contains a side of the coming of age trope that we don’t get to see often, a somewhat unexplored theme. It’s backing that theme up with well-written characters, fluid writing, and interesting plot points. And then something unexpected begins: we get to see useless things happen. We get to see unnecessary plot points and dialogue, one of the few flaws this book has, but it affects it in a major way.
It’s a quick read, and the writing is incredible. It’s not a bad book, but few moments in it took away from my overall impression.
*Copy received through NetGalley
*Actual rating: 3.5/5 stars
July 12, 2017
Thanks for the Publisher for providing an ARC of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Actual Rating: 3.5 stars
Plot: Krista is a 16 year old teenager who is going through the phases of grief as explained in the book, she lives with her father, a doctor who is also a control-freak and Krista, her father nurse and his new love after the loss of Krista's mother. So the book starts with describing Krista's depressive life, she and Emma are like the two hands of a weighing scale, if one is happy the other will be sad... Although Emma is trying her best to fit in!
Krista keeps driving to house 758, where supposedly she sees "someone" who did "something" and that goes on and on for many pages and we are supposed to be curious to know who and why (To be honest, I was curious but it dragged more than it should have).
Also, Jake now is brave enough to get into her life, he has always been there but he didn't have the courage to face her but know once that "thing" has happened and she longs for a normal life, Jack is the only one who treats her in that way.
Also, her sick grandpa is paying them a visit for medical purposes and he also has that effect of old people of being carefree and speaking his mind so he kind of changes her life.
Things that I like:
* There were some good quotes throughout the book, the writing style is not so special but it was not half-bad
* The psychological aspect was well written and as a medicine student I could relate to Krista's depression
* The Grandpa character was also very well-written and realistic!
* Beautiful cover, I don't know why, but I like it very much!!
Things that I didn't like:
* Although this was a fast read, the book could be even shorter because some parts were unnecessary and repetitive.
* I already have a diagnosis for Mr.Grandpa, I thought that it was an important part of the story but then it was suddenly ignored!
* Some parts were not very convincing.
Summary:
This is not supposed to be a very happy story, life is not fair and that exactly is what this book depicts. It was good in being realistic and it felt like watching a family movie. sometimes I am in the mood to read something depressive and this was a good choice! But don't be fooled as it is also about moving on and second chances!!
Fav Quote:
"I couldn't hate everyone- there were too many to hate. Where would I stop? Hate doesn't hurt the hated person... it only hurts the person who hates."
Actual Rating: 3.5 stars
Plot: Krista is a 16 year old teenager who is going through the phases of grief as explained in the book, she lives with her father, a doctor who is also a control-freak and Krista, her father nurse and his new love after the loss of Krista's mother. So the book starts with describing Krista's depressive life, she and Emma are like the two hands of a weighing scale, if one is happy the other will be sad... Although Emma is trying her best to fit in!
Krista keeps driving to house 758, where supposedly she sees "someone" who did "something" and that goes on and on for many pages and we are supposed to be curious to know who and why (To be honest, I was curious but it dragged more than it should have).
Also, Jake now is brave enough to get into her life, he has always been there but he didn't have the courage to face her but know once that "thing" has happened and she longs for a normal life, Jack is the only one who treats her in that way.
Also, her sick grandpa is paying them a visit for medical purposes and he also has that effect of old people of being carefree and speaking his mind so he kind of changes her life.
Things that I like:
* There were some good quotes throughout the book, the writing style is not so special but it was not half-bad
* The psychological aspect was well written and as a medicine student I could relate to Krista's depression
* The Grandpa character was also very well-written and realistic!
* Beautiful cover, I don't know why, but I like it very much!!
Things that I didn't like:
* Although this was a fast read, the book could be even shorter because some parts were unnecessary and repetitive.
* I already have a diagnosis for Mr.Grandpa, I thought that it was an important part of the story but then it was suddenly ignored!
* Some parts were not very convincing.
Summary:
This is not supposed to be a very happy story, life is not fair and that exactly is what this book depicts. It was good in being realistic and it felt like watching a family movie. sometimes I am in the mood to read something depressive and this was a good choice! But don't be fooled as it is also about moving on and second chances!!
Fav Quote:
"I couldn't hate everyone- there were too many to hate. Where would I stop? Hate doesn't hurt the hated person... it only hurts the person who hates."
December 10, 2022
// Received an advance readers copy in exchange for a fair review //
"keep adding to your life - a little bit this, a little bit that,"
I didn't know what to feel about this book at first, but I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised. It made me feel giddy and nervous at the same time and that's really rare for me.
I like the family aspect of the book because not a lot of YA books do that nowadays. The book is focused on both the teen individual's life and the family in general. The plot is something that I know a low of teenagers who are going through the same thing would be able to relate to.
There are certain things about the 'love story' that I still find too cliche but even I have to admit that it was pretty cute and again, still managed to make me feel giddy.
This was so mysterious.
"but dont go with hate in your heart"
this is a lowkey beautiful book
"keep adding to your life - a little bit this, a little bit that,"
I didn't know what to feel about this book at first, but I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised. It made me feel giddy and nervous at the same time and that's really rare for me.
I like the family aspect of the book because not a lot of YA books do that nowadays. The book is focused on both the teen individual's life and the family in general. The plot is something that I know a low of teenagers who are going through the same thing would be able to relate to.
There are certain things about the 'love story' that I still find too cliche but even I have to admit that it was pretty cute and again, still managed to make me feel giddy.
This was so mysterious.
"but dont go with hate in your heart"
this is a lowkey beautiful book
December 21, 2017
“The House at 758” is a coming-of-age story centered around grief and the unhealthy ways people deal with it. I found Krista and those around her intriguing and I genuinely worried about her mental health and safety. It’s an odd story in the way it reads and that adds to the appeal. The storytelling fits the plot perfectly and almost becomes a character unto itself. Recommended!
This unbiased review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.
This unbiased review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.
January 25, 2018
A million years ago, back in May 2017, I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley. And because I am me, I completely forgot about it. Eventually, by the time that I did remember it, the book had expired and I could no longer get to it. Still, I felt I had an obligation to read and review this novel. So, when it came into my local library I went and I got it and now, here we are. Let's get to this review and I'll try to keep it short.
I don't know what I expected from this book but it certainly wasn't what I got. In a way, this book was far better than I ever imagined it would be. This book is about a young girl, Krista, whose mom died and who now had to live with her father and his new girlfriend. The only way Krista has of dealing with her depressive thoughts is by focusing on the mysterious house 758.
For a good part of the book, we are drawn into the mystery of the house and who lives there, as well as why it is that Krista is so obsessed with it. This was interesting to read about at first but after a while, I felt it kind of dragged a bit. For having been such a short novel (250 pages) I felt that a bit long near the middle and this is why I am not rating it higher.
The characters in this book were interesting and compelling enough to keep me interested although at times I did get a little fed up with Krista. I also wasn't a huge fan of the romance that develops between Krista and her Jake. Don't get me wrong, the romance is a not the main focus of the story, nor does it distract from the plot.
What I enjoyed most about this book is that it focuses a lot on family and I really liked Krista's interactions with her grandfather. Young adult novels have the tendency to focus on just the main character and their problems instead of looking at the those around them and how they are dealing with the situations. This book though is a coming of age story that focuses on family dynamics and coming together.
Overall, I'm really glad I got to pick this up regret not having read it earlier. I would recommend this to someone who likes reading YA coming of age stories.
**I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.**
I don't know what I expected from this book but it certainly wasn't what I got. In a way, this book was far better than I ever imagined it would be. This book is about a young girl, Krista, whose mom died and who now had to live with her father and his new girlfriend. The only way Krista has of dealing with her depressive thoughts is by focusing on the mysterious house 758.
For a good part of the book, we are drawn into the mystery of the house and who lives there, as well as why it is that Krista is so obsessed with it. This was interesting to read about at first but after a while, I felt it kind of dragged a bit. For having been such a short novel (250 pages) I felt that a bit long near the middle and this is why I am not rating it higher.
The characters in this book were interesting and compelling enough to keep me interested although at times I did get a little fed up with Krista. I also wasn't a huge fan of the romance that develops between Krista and her Jake. Don't get me wrong, the romance is a not the main focus of the story, nor does it distract from the plot.
What I enjoyed most about this book is that it focuses a lot on family and I really liked Krista's interactions with her grandfather. Young adult novels have the tendency to focus on just the main character and their problems instead of looking at the those around them and how they are dealing with the situations. This book though is a coming of age story that focuses on family dynamics and coming together.
Overall, I'm really glad I got to pick this up regret not having read it earlier. I would recommend this to someone who likes reading YA coming of age stories.
**I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.**
October 14, 2017
I received an early copy of this book in return for my independent honest review. This well written and well translated book got me thinking about all perspectives of grief from those of a young adult coming to terms with the loss of a parent, the widowed spouse trying to move on with life and also the older generations in our lives who have seen so much and felt grief in all its dimensions. In my opinion this book tackles love, loss coming of age in a easy to understand way that is emotional and believable. I enjoyed the characters and their interactions.
Great book for its target audience, but also as a parent it helped me understand how loss affects our children in different ways to us.
Great book for its target audience, but also as a parent it helped me understand how loss affects our children in different ways to us.
July 25, 2017
It's hard to describe this book. It's sad but it's also happy. It doesn't have the happiest ending but in some ways, it does. It's not the saddest book, but in some ways it is. I highly recommend this one.
October 27, 2017
Rating: 4.5 Stars
I am utter trash for grief books, and Berla did so many things I love in this book. I am really impressed with the amount of story she was able to accomplish in such a short book, and thought she did a good job dropping those breadcrumbs for me to find, as I tried to figure out the whole story behind Krista's loss.
•Pro: Yes, it's another grief book, and the pain in this one was intense. We know Krista is still dealing with her mother's death two years later, but we don't have the full story, and I knew there was more to it, because Berla dropped these little breadcrumbs along the way. My heart cracked in half when I got the whole story.
•Pro: Krista was so wounded and consumed by her sadness. She felt alone, but also felt like people handled her with kid gloves, because of what had happened. I really wanted her to find an outlet for her pain, because it was eating her alive.
•Pro: Jake! This boy was special. Any guy, who can see past that "meet cute" is a keeper, but he proved himself worthy of Krista's friendship over and over again. I really enjoyed the scenes they shared together, and was keeping my fingers crossed that Krista would be able to escape her fog of grief long enough to enjoy Jake's company.
•Pro: I loved my grandparents so much, and am thrilled when they are featured in stories. Krista's maternal grandfather visited from Venezuela, and he really helped Krista with her healing process. We also got to learn about her grandfather's childhood, which caused some tears. I loved the way his story was used to help Krista too.
•Pro: It was awesome to see Krista's social circle grow as she started to heal. With each new friend, we saw Krista becoming more and more whole.
•Pro: I was really impressed with how much story Berla gave us in so few pages. This is a short book, but it's very complete. I felt like the characters and storyline were well developed.
•Pro: Berla didn't go with the miraculous healing angle. Krista suffered a great loss, and avoided dealing with it for two years, so her journey was not over when the book ended, but she was moving in the right direction, and I thought that was realistic.
•Pro: It was an interesting choice Berla made with the ending, and the very end. Well, let's just say I re-read it, and I am crying a little right now. It was very sweet.
Overall: A beautiful and moving story of love, loss, grief, loneliness, family, and healing. I loved every minute of this book, and adored the way Berla had the story unfold.
**I would like to thank the publisher for the advanced copy of this book.
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I am utter trash for grief books, and Berla did so many things I love in this book. I am really impressed with the amount of story she was able to accomplish in such a short book, and thought she did a good job dropping those breadcrumbs for me to find, as I tried to figure out the whole story behind Krista's loss.
•Pro: Yes, it's another grief book, and the pain in this one was intense. We know Krista is still dealing with her mother's death two years later, but we don't have the full story, and I knew there was more to it, because Berla dropped these little breadcrumbs along the way. My heart cracked in half when I got the whole story.
•Pro: Krista was so wounded and consumed by her sadness. She felt alone, but also felt like people handled her with kid gloves, because of what had happened. I really wanted her to find an outlet for her pain, because it was eating her alive.
•Pro: Jake! This boy was special. Any guy, who can see past that "meet cute" is a keeper, but he proved himself worthy of Krista's friendship over and over again. I really enjoyed the scenes they shared together, and was keeping my fingers crossed that Krista would be able to escape her fog of grief long enough to enjoy Jake's company.
•Pro: I loved my grandparents so much, and am thrilled when they are featured in stories. Krista's maternal grandfather visited from Venezuela, and he really helped Krista with her healing process. We also got to learn about her grandfather's childhood, which caused some tears. I loved the way his story was used to help Krista too.
•Pro: It was awesome to see Krista's social circle grow as she started to heal. With each new friend, we saw Krista becoming more and more whole.
•Pro: I was really impressed with how much story Berla gave us in so few pages. This is a short book, but it's very complete. I felt like the characters and storyline were well developed.
•Pro: Berla didn't go with the miraculous healing angle. Krista suffered a great loss, and avoided dealing with it for two years, so her journey was not over when the book ended, but she was moving in the right direction, and I thought that was realistic.
•Pro: It was an interesting choice Berla made with the ending, and the very end. Well, let's just say I re-read it, and I am crying a little right now. It was very sweet.
Overall: A beautiful and moving story of love, loss, grief, loneliness, family, and healing. I loved every minute of this book, and adored the way Berla had the story unfold.
**I would like to thank the publisher for the advanced copy of this book.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
August 8, 2017
Krista (MC) is going through a rough time when we meet her with her mom having passed and her dad having a new woman move into the house. She begins to isolate herself by spending most of her time outside on the roof in her tent, but it doesn't seem to be much of an inconvenience to her as it is to those around her who seem concerned about her and the odd choices she's making.
The story begins in the early summer and Krista's dad is hounding her to find something productive to do with her free time such as joining the swim team or getting a job. Krista's best friend Lyla is going away for the summer, but tries to be reassuring that she is there for Krista if she needs her and openly states that she thinks Krista is a "big responsibility".
The book pulls you in when Krista starts displaying acts of teenage defiance when she starts coming home late, stealing from the mall, and stalking the house at 758. You can sense her anger that those around her have moved on from her mothers death sooner than she would have preferred.
The story is good, and I felt drawn into the developing relationship with the grandfather. His story was absolutely beautiful, and I would loved to have more- but it was just enough to help Krista develop and grow.
I felt the romantic relationship between Krista and Jake was a bit unnecessary, except to give her a comfortable outlet to express her feelings later on in the book. There could have been more development and growth of their relationship to help the story progress and give their specific relationship more meaning.
Near the end and around the resolution we learn additional information on Krista's loss (not her mother) that was hardly hinted at earlier in the book and therefore didn't have much of an impact as I believe it should have. This is probably the only negative thought I had while reading this book.
I really enjoy how this book was written. It flows very well and the language and thought process of the MC is easy to follow, making this a quick read. The authors use of adjectives and adverbs paints a perfect picture of what is happening in the book that I find myself immersed within it's pages. However, I feel the story was either too short (by about 100 pages of detail and interactions that could have helped development), or was too long (should have been turned into a short story with details such as romantic relations excluded).
The cover is simple, but enjoyable to look at. I marked this book as "want to read" after the cover piqued my interest, and reading the description the book sounded relatable to me and like it may be a decent coming of age, or young adult suspense novel. At a short 158 pages I figured this book would be a nice "pallet cleanser".
I give this book a 3/5 star rating.
This rating and review is based on immediate feelings after completing this book, and is not in comparison to other books I have read.
I would probably recommend this book to a friend who wants a quick read and enjoys coming of age stories.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in return for my honest review.
The story begins in the early summer and Krista's dad is hounding her to find something productive to do with her free time such as joining the swim team or getting a job. Krista's best friend Lyla is going away for the summer, but tries to be reassuring that she is there for Krista if she needs her and openly states that she thinks Krista is a "big responsibility".
The book pulls you in when Krista starts displaying acts of teenage defiance when she starts coming home late, stealing from the mall, and stalking the house at 758. You can sense her anger that those around her have moved on from her mothers death sooner than she would have preferred.
The story is good, and I felt drawn into the developing relationship with the grandfather. His story was absolutely beautiful, and I would loved to have more- but it was just enough to help Krista develop and grow.
I felt the romantic relationship between Krista and Jake was a bit unnecessary, except to give her a comfortable outlet to express her feelings later on in the book. There could have been more development and growth of their relationship to help the story progress and give their specific relationship more meaning.
Near the end and around the resolution we learn additional information on Krista's loss (not her mother) that was hardly hinted at earlier in the book and therefore didn't have much of an impact as I believe it should have. This is probably the only negative thought I had while reading this book.
I really enjoy how this book was written. It flows very well and the language and thought process of the MC is easy to follow, making this a quick read. The authors use of adjectives and adverbs paints a perfect picture of what is happening in the book that I find myself immersed within it's pages. However, I feel the story was either too short (by about 100 pages of detail and interactions that could have helped development), or was too long (should have been turned into a short story with details such as romantic relations excluded).
The cover is simple, but enjoyable to look at. I marked this book as "want to read" after the cover piqued my interest, and reading the description the book sounded relatable to me and like it may be a decent coming of age, or young adult suspense novel. At a short 158 pages I figured this book would be a nice "pallet cleanser".
I give this book a 3/5 star rating.
This rating and review is based on immediate feelings after completing this book, and is not in comparison to other books I have read.
I would probably recommend this book to a friend who wants a quick read and enjoys coming of age stories.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in return for my honest review.
April 27, 2017
Copy courtesy of NetGalley
A sweet look at loss, love, forgiveness and moving forward.
A sweet look at loss, love, forgiveness and moving forward.
December 28, 2015
En general ha sido un buen libro y con un mensaje final que me ha gustado mucho, a pesar de que no ha llegado a emocionarme como otros muchos.
Esto creo que se debe a que es un libro bastante corto, de solamente 237 páginas, con lo que he encontrado que falta profundidad en algunos temas.
Una de las cosas que más me atrajeron de esta novela fue descubrir la historia del abuelo de Krista. Es una parte muy importante en la trama y el desenlace, además de ser la que más disfruté, pero que se desarrolla en la segunda parte y de forma bastante rápida.
Aún así, la relación con su abuelo me ha parecido muy tierna y bonita. Es un hombre fuerte, que no ha tenido una vida fácil, pero aún así se siente agradecido por estar vivo y poder disfrutar de ello.
La autora también introduce una historia de amor que he visto totalmente prescindible y nada necesaria. Es una trama secundaria pero que sin ella me hubiera gustado mucho más. Además, también la vi algo predecible y un poco tópica.
Reseña completa: http://beingsaray.blogspot.com.es/201...
Esto creo que se debe a que es un libro bastante corto, de solamente 237 páginas, con lo que he encontrado que falta profundidad en algunos temas.
Una de las cosas que más me atrajeron de esta novela fue descubrir la historia del abuelo de Krista. Es una parte muy importante en la trama y el desenlace, además de ser la que más disfruté, pero que se desarrolla en la segunda parte y de forma bastante rápida.
Aún así, la relación con su abuelo me ha parecido muy tierna y bonita. Es un hombre fuerte, que no ha tenido una vida fácil, pero aún así se siente agradecido por estar vivo y poder disfrutar de ello.
La autora también introduce una historia de amor que he visto totalmente prescindible y nada necesaria. Es una trama secundaria pero que sin ella me hubiera gustado mucho más. Además, también la vi algo predecible y un poco tópica.
Reseña completa: http://beingsaray.blogspot.com.es/201...
March 28, 2017
A beautiful story. The climax was hinted at so subtly, with a lot of story to keep one interested in the meantime. Krista had a horrific experience, but she was lucky in who could help her overcome it. Not every girl gets to tell her anguish to the hot football star and find perspective in the tragedy of her grandfather's past. Wonderful descriptions, perfectly understandable as the narrator hopes to be a writer. If she writes as well as her creator, she will be a great success
June 6, 2017
Going into this book, I wasn’t really sure what to expect. I decided to read it on a whim but I’m very glad I did. This story revolves around a teenage girl who’s grieving over the death of her mother while simultaneously adjusting to her father’s new girlfriend moving in, getting through the summer without her best friend, continuously visiting a mystery house, experiencing her first boyfriend, and looking after her grandpa visiting from Venezuela. There were many sub-plots in this story and I found that they all fit perfectly. I didn’t feel that any plot line was out of place and they all came together in the end. Oh, and that plot twist? I never seen it coming (though looking back at the story now, I can see the hints that were dropped).
Our main character is Krista, a 16 year old going on 17. She’s a high school student but the story takes place during the summer. Since the death of her mother, she doesn’t have much of a purpose in life. While it seems like everyone has moved on from the death of her mother, Krista hasn’t. She doesn’t went to let go of her anger and grief and she’s upset that other people seem to have gone back to normal life. With her best friend gone for the summer and nothing to do to keep her busy, her father assigns her the task of taking care of her grandpa while he visits from Venezuela. She had never been very close with her grandpa and it was nice to see their relationship grow as they spent time together and really got to know each other.
Her grandpa, Gyuri, was a very interesting character to me. He’s a Hungarian Jew who survived the Holocaust by chance while the rest of his family was killed. Krista’s mother was his daughter so the grief is something they both share. However, he is not as distraught over the death as Krista still is. I loved the little parts about his childhood during the Holocaust and his experience with Gypsies. It really added to the story, and not at all in a way that felt out of place. Gyuri was full of wisdom and as he get’s closer to Krista and talks to her, he really helps her start to get over her grief and anger.
Then there’s Jake, Krista’s love interest. He’s a boy from her high school and is a “popular” guy at school, which is why Krista assumes he doesn’t know who she is until he takes an interest in her. I felt that his character, though not incredibly complex, was still developed well enough to be a round character. He was so supportive of Krista throughout the story, and never pushed her to talk about anything she didn’t want to. I enjoyed watching their relationship grow, even though it wasn’t the focus point of the story.
There were several more minor characters that I loved. They were all fleshed out enough that they didn’t fall flat and I loved seeing them whenever they made appearances in the story.
This story was so relatable to me. I really think everyone could find something to relate to in this story. Everyone will experience loss in their life at some point and will likely feel the same way that Krista did. When you lose someone important to you, I think it’s normal to be angry at the world, at least that’s how it is for me. I can also relate to not wanting to move on. Overall, the depiction of loss and grief in this story was very accurate and well written.
There were also other relatable aspects such as experiencing your first relationships. It was entertaining to read the description of Krista getting ready for her date with Jake for the mere fact that that’s how I felt when I got ready for my first date and I hope that many others felt the same way.
Overall, I’m so glad I decided to pick up and I hope that after reading this review some of you will decide to pick it up as well. It was a well-written story about dealing with loss, learning to move on, and learning to forgive. The only reason I didn’t give it a 5 star review is because I don’t think it’s something that will stick with me forever and it didn’t completely wow me. However, while reading it was enjoyable, relatable, and made me feel lots of emotions. I also enjoyed Kathryn Berla’s writing style. She has a way with words. This book contains several thought provoking sentences. If you’re looking for a contemporary story that’s character-driven and will make you feel something, this is the book for you. I’ll definitely be recommending it to my friends and family.
Our main character is Krista, a 16 year old going on 17. She’s a high school student but the story takes place during the summer. Since the death of her mother, she doesn’t have much of a purpose in life. While it seems like everyone has moved on from the death of her mother, Krista hasn’t. She doesn’t went to let go of her anger and grief and she’s upset that other people seem to have gone back to normal life. With her best friend gone for the summer and nothing to do to keep her busy, her father assigns her the task of taking care of her grandpa while he visits from Venezuela. She had never been very close with her grandpa and it was nice to see their relationship grow as they spent time together and really got to know each other.
Her grandpa, Gyuri, was a very interesting character to me. He’s a Hungarian Jew who survived the Holocaust by chance while the rest of his family was killed. Krista’s mother was his daughter so the grief is something they both share. However, he is not as distraught over the death as Krista still is. I loved the little parts about his childhood during the Holocaust and his experience with Gypsies. It really added to the story, and not at all in a way that felt out of place. Gyuri was full of wisdom and as he get’s closer to Krista and talks to her, he really helps her start to get over her grief and anger.
Then there’s Jake, Krista’s love interest. He’s a boy from her high school and is a “popular” guy at school, which is why Krista assumes he doesn’t know who she is until he takes an interest in her. I felt that his character, though not incredibly complex, was still developed well enough to be a round character. He was so supportive of Krista throughout the story, and never pushed her to talk about anything she didn’t want to. I enjoyed watching their relationship grow, even though it wasn’t the focus point of the story.
There were several more minor characters that I loved. They were all fleshed out enough that they didn’t fall flat and I loved seeing them whenever they made appearances in the story.
This story was so relatable to me. I really think everyone could find something to relate to in this story. Everyone will experience loss in their life at some point and will likely feel the same way that Krista did. When you lose someone important to you, I think it’s normal to be angry at the world, at least that’s how it is for me. I can also relate to not wanting to move on. Overall, the depiction of loss and grief in this story was very accurate and well written.
There were also other relatable aspects such as experiencing your first relationships. It was entertaining to read the description of Krista getting ready for her date with Jake for the mere fact that that’s how I felt when I got ready for my first date and I hope that many others felt the same way.
Overall, I’m so glad I decided to pick up and I hope that after reading this review some of you will decide to pick it up as well. It was a well-written story about dealing with loss, learning to move on, and learning to forgive. The only reason I didn’t give it a 5 star review is because I don’t think it’s something that will stick with me forever and it didn’t completely wow me. However, while reading it was enjoyable, relatable, and made me feel lots of emotions. I also enjoyed Kathryn Berla’s writing style. She has a way with words. This book contains several thought provoking sentences. If you’re looking for a contemporary story that’s character-driven and will make you feel something, this is the book for you. I’ll definitely be recommending it to my friends and family.
May 30, 2017
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
In all honesty, I didn't have high expectations for this one. It wasn't a top choice when I first read its description on NetGalley, just a whim request.
I'm really glad I requested it.
The House at 758 is an English translation of the Spanish La Casa 758 (I'm not totally sure why the book was originally written in Spanish, as its author appears to be an anglophile from the San Francisco Bay Area, but maybe I misunderstood something, and this really has nothing to do with anything beyond my own inherent curiosity). It's a book about grief, told from the eyes of a teenager.
Krista is 16-going-on-17 and still reeling from the death of her mother a couple years prior. It's summer vacation, so her best friend's out of town, she's stuck at home, and her physician father is in and out (along with his new live-in girlfriend and the two kids she has partial custody over). Everyone seems to be moving on and looking toward the future except Krista. Krista doesn't want to. She doesn't want to forget, or let go of her grief and anger over what transpired that led to her mother's death.
Poorly written novels on this topic could go one of two ways: they could let readers know upfront what happened in plain English and hyper-focus on the details throughout the story or they could repeatedly yank the chain and keep readers guessing (when, let's be honest, we all know it's going to be cancer, a car accident, or some random mugging, depending on the clues an author drops liberally throughout the story).
The House at 758 takes a different approach. We know something's wrong at the outset. We know it's Krista's mother who died. For a little while, it's not explicitly stated what happened, but that gets revealed organically as the plot winds along. I liked that. I also appreciated the introduction of a romantic interest for Krista that helped her heal rather than focusing on romance as an overwhelming part of the story. Krista crushes just enough for it to be realistic without crushing so hard I want to throw a hammer at her. We also see her father's girlfriend's actions and words interpreted through Krista's partiality, which transitions from highly critical to a growing understanding. That's great emotional character development, in my opinion, especially when we're dealing with a teenage narrator.
The introduction of a visit from Krista's grandfather came about later in the story than I'd anticipated given the novel's summary, but it worked well, and helped Krista along on her emotional recovery.
I also appreciated the subtly of how socio-ecnomic status was introduced in this story. Krista comes from an affluent family, and that's reflected in a couple ways, from the neighborhood where she lives to the car she drives, then contrasted with a couple other characters whose families aren't quite as well off financially. I would've loved for the author to explore this even more explicitly, but I realize that wasn't the point of this story and appreciate that it was introduced at all.
There were just a few things that kept me from giving this an outright 5-stars, and one's a bit subjective - nothing emotionally impacted me as much as other books I've read that I've given the 5-star rating to (told you). The other is an issue with what I imagine was meant to be a surprise reveal near the end that I didn't really buy. I won't give spoilers here, but I didn't feel like enough clues were offered beforehand (or in a way that made me question what was happening enough to appreciate the addition of a surprise twist to the grief Krista was experiencing, is perhaps a better way to put it). That meant when it actually got sprung near the end of the story I had a "wait, huh?" moment, then found myself shrugging a bit and moving on. It felt like it cheapened what was otherwise a very well written story about the long-lasting effects of grief. Unnecessary. Also probably not the emotional impact the author was going for.
On the whole though, this is the best YA story I've read in awhile, and one I'd recommend to anyone looking for a contemporary, character-driven novel with a teenage protagonist. High praise, considering how picky I've been about what I'm reading in this genre lately.
In all honesty, I didn't have high expectations for this one. It wasn't a top choice when I first read its description on NetGalley, just a whim request.
I'm really glad I requested it.
The House at 758 is an English translation of the Spanish La Casa 758 (I'm not totally sure why the book was originally written in Spanish, as its author appears to be an anglophile from the San Francisco Bay Area, but maybe I misunderstood something, and this really has nothing to do with anything beyond my own inherent curiosity). It's a book about grief, told from the eyes of a teenager.
Krista is 16-going-on-17 and still reeling from the death of her mother a couple years prior. It's summer vacation, so her best friend's out of town, she's stuck at home, and her physician father is in and out (along with his new live-in girlfriend and the two kids she has partial custody over). Everyone seems to be moving on and looking toward the future except Krista. Krista doesn't want to. She doesn't want to forget, or let go of her grief and anger over what transpired that led to her mother's death.
Poorly written novels on this topic could go one of two ways: they could let readers know upfront what happened in plain English and hyper-focus on the details throughout the story or they could repeatedly yank the chain and keep readers guessing (when, let's be honest, we all know it's going to be cancer, a car accident, or some random mugging, depending on the clues an author drops liberally throughout the story).
The House at 758 takes a different approach. We know something's wrong at the outset. We know it's Krista's mother who died. For a little while, it's not explicitly stated what happened, but that gets revealed organically as the plot winds along. I liked that. I also appreciated the introduction of a romantic interest for Krista that helped her heal rather than focusing on romance as an overwhelming part of the story. Krista crushes just enough for it to be realistic without crushing so hard I want to throw a hammer at her. We also see her father's girlfriend's actions and words interpreted through Krista's partiality, which transitions from highly critical to a growing understanding. That's great emotional character development, in my opinion, especially when we're dealing with a teenage narrator.
The introduction of a visit from Krista's grandfather came about later in the story than I'd anticipated given the novel's summary, but it worked well, and helped Krista along on her emotional recovery.
I also appreciated the subtly of how socio-ecnomic status was introduced in this story. Krista comes from an affluent family, and that's reflected in a couple ways, from the neighborhood where she lives to the car she drives, then contrasted with a couple other characters whose families aren't quite as well off financially. I would've loved for the author to explore this even more explicitly, but I realize that wasn't the point of this story and appreciate that it was introduced at all.
There were just a few things that kept me from giving this an outright 5-stars, and one's a bit subjective - nothing emotionally impacted me as much as other books I've read that I've given the 5-star rating to (told you). The other is an issue with what I imagine was meant to be a surprise reveal near the end that I didn't really buy. I won't give spoilers here, but I didn't feel like enough clues were offered beforehand (or in a way that made me question what was happening enough to appreciate the addition of a surprise twist to the grief Krista was experiencing, is perhaps a better way to put it). That meant when it actually got sprung near the end of the story I had a "wait, huh?" moment, then found myself shrugging a bit and moving on. It felt like it cheapened what was otherwise a very well written story about the long-lasting effects of grief. Unnecessary. Also probably not the emotional impact the author was going for.
On the whole though, this is the best YA story I've read in awhile, and one I'd recommend to anyone looking for a contemporary, character-driven novel with a teenage protagonist. High praise, considering how picky I've been about what I'm reading in this genre lately.
August 8, 2017
*Thank you to the author and Netgalley for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review*
4 stars
Okay, so I'm going to admit that, though the blurb did sound interesting to me, I did not expect much from this book... and I definitely did not expect to connect with this book on any level... but I really, surprisingly, did, so much so that I feel like the author peeked a look inside my brain and quite literary imprinted my thoughts onto the pages.
I felt a great connection to the MC, Krista, and at the same time I found her immensely irritating and her self-destructive tendencies resulted in me yelling to myself "WHYYYYY YOU KNOW YOU'RE JUST HURTING YOURSELF" ... because Krista reflected me so much, I felt like I was reading about myself, which is why I found her so annoying - because our behaviors are so similar.
I thought that the story was unique, and the authors approach to it was honest, realistic and all in all done superbly. Nothing was romanticized, which I find usually tends to happen when a young girl finds romance in the midst of a death and personal loss. It's clear that for Krista, finding and exploring this new relationship with Jake would be beneficial for her emotionally, but it wasn't A CURE for her sadness.
I also found the strained relationship (or lack of) between Krista and her step-mother realistic and relatable, and the emotional distance, confusion, and confliction that she experiences towards her, as well as her own father, was portrayed well and true.
On the other hand, throughout the book I found myself having to go back to read the blurb to remind myself what the book was actually about. I don't know if it was because the story isn't linear, it frequently jumps from the future to the past and back again, and I guess I struggled to find the connection or interest in some of those moments. Also, I didn't feel fully content with the way that the story ended? Whether that was intentional by the author though I'm not sure, but I guess that it would have been expected for the story to end happily, with the MC having resolved all of her relationships and suddenly become completely accepting of ... so actually, I'd say that it's a more realistic outcome. Not all stories end happily or fully resolved, it takes time.
I would definitely recommend this book and you may, like myself, be pleasantly surprised by it, and I'll make sure to check out some of the author's other novels!
4 stars
Okay, so I'm going to admit that, though the blurb did sound interesting to me, I did not expect much from this book... and I definitely did not expect to connect with this book on any level... but I really, surprisingly, did, so much so that I feel like the author peeked a look inside my brain and quite literary imprinted my thoughts onto the pages.
I felt a great connection to the MC, Krista, and at the same time I found her immensely irritating and her self-destructive tendencies resulted in me yelling to myself "WHYYYYY YOU KNOW YOU'RE JUST HURTING YOURSELF" ... because Krista reflected me so much, I felt like I was reading about myself, which is why I found her so annoying - because our behaviors are so similar.
I thought that the story was unique, and the authors approach to it was honest, realistic and all in all done superbly. Nothing was romanticized, which I find usually tends to happen when a young girl finds romance in the midst of a death and personal loss. It's clear that for Krista, finding and exploring this new relationship with Jake would be beneficial for her emotionally, but it wasn't A CURE for her sadness.
I also found the strained relationship (or lack of) between Krista and her step-mother realistic and relatable, and the emotional distance, confusion, and confliction that she experiences towards her, as well as her own father, was portrayed well and true.
On the other hand, throughout the book I found myself having to go back to read the blurb to remind myself what the book was actually about. I don't know if it was because the story isn't linear, it frequently jumps from the future to the past and back again, and I guess I struggled to find the connection or interest in some of those moments. Also, I didn't feel fully content with the way that the story ended? Whether that was intentional by the author though I'm not sure, but I guess that it would have been expected for the story to end happily, with the MC having resolved all of her relationships and suddenly become completely accepting of ... so actually, I'd say that it's a more realistic outcome. Not all stories end happily or fully resolved, it takes time.
I would definitely recommend this book and you may, like myself, be pleasantly surprised by it, and I'll make sure to check out some of the author's other novels!
May 12, 2018
Sixteen-year-old Krista misses her mother. She isn't ready for family life to resume, but her father has asked his girlfriend to move in. Krista and Marie aren't getting along and Krista sleeps in a tent on the garage roof instead of in her bedroom. She can't bear sharing her home with a woman who isn't her mother. She's still mourning the loss of her mother and isn't ready to start living normally again. Instead she drives to the house at 758 every day, parking in front of it and keeping an eye on what happens inside.
Krista's best friend is spending the summer with her grandparents. That means Krista is on her own. She doesn't have any other friends, being social is too difficult. She's surprised when Jake, someone she knows from school, wants to hang out with her. Is she ready to do something fun or will she mess it up because of the emotional turmoil inside of her? To get Krista out of her tent her father asks her to drive her grandfather around during his visit. Krista can't talk to her father or Marie, but maybe spending time with her grandfather and Jake will finally give her a chance to get a grip on her sadness?
The House at 758 is a beautiful moving story. Krista is in so much pain, she doesn't know what to do with herself. I had tears in my eyes when I read her story and was impressed by the amount of depth Kathryn Berla has managed to put into it. Krista is a sweet and smart girl, but life is hard. She's desperate and doesn't know how to handle her emotions. Because her father seems to have moved on and forces Krista to do the same it's even harder for her to deal with everything that comes her way. I kept hoping she'd find a little ray of sunshine, so she could start working on her grief.
Kathryn Berla's vivid writing makes The House at 758 come to life in a fantastic way. I could feel Krista's pain and loved how raw and real her emotions are. I admired the honest way Kathryn Berla writes about tragedy. The House at 758 isn't gloomy though, there's hope and light in the story as well. When Krista starts making connections with others again, she slowly climbs out of the deep hole of despair she was in and I loved seeing her grow. Her journey is a slow, but rewarding one. The House at 758 is a brilliant story, I was amazed by this book and highly recommend it.
Krista's best friend is spending the summer with her grandparents. That means Krista is on her own. She doesn't have any other friends, being social is too difficult. She's surprised when Jake, someone she knows from school, wants to hang out with her. Is she ready to do something fun or will she mess it up because of the emotional turmoil inside of her? To get Krista out of her tent her father asks her to drive her grandfather around during his visit. Krista can't talk to her father or Marie, but maybe spending time with her grandfather and Jake will finally give her a chance to get a grip on her sadness?
The House at 758 is a beautiful moving story. Krista is in so much pain, she doesn't know what to do with herself. I had tears in my eyes when I read her story and was impressed by the amount of depth Kathryn Berla has managed to put into it. Krista is a sweet and smart girl, but life is hard. She's desperate and doesn't know how to handle her emotions. Because her father seems to have moved on and forces Krista to do the same it's even harder for her to deal with everything that comes her way. I kept hoping she'd find a little ray of sunshine, so she could start working on her grief.
Kathryn Berla's vivid writing makes The House at 758 come to life in a fantastic way. I could feel Krista's pain and loved how raw and real her emotions are. I admired the honest way Kathryn Berla writes about tragedy. The House at 758 isn't gloomy though, there's hope and light in the story as well. When Krista starts making connections with others again, she slowly climbs out of the deep hole of despair she was in and I loved seeing her grow. Her journey is a slow, but rewarding one. The House at 758 is a brilliant story, I was amazed by this book and highly recommend it.
May 27, 2017
Thank you to Netgalley and Amberjack Publishing for providing me with an EArc in exchange for an honest and unbiased review
Rating: 3.75
I honestly wasn't too sure what to expect going into The house at 758. This is a book that's been translated from Spanish into English so I wasn't sure if there would be large Hispanic influences that i wouldn't fully understand but, decided to give it a shot anyway. I am SO glad that I did. Our MC Krista is living in the San Francisco area living with her father and his girlfriend Marie while dealing with the loss of her mother two years prior. In the beginning we learn that she is obsessed with house number 758 and the people inside of it, sitting out on the road watching it's activities multiple days in a row just hoping to catch a glimpse of him.
Krista is very relatable in the fact that she has inner struggles about things a lot of readers can relate to such as the loss of a parent, having her first serious relationship and spending the summer away from her best friend. She's not the 'roll out of bed perfect' MC that we too often see in YA novels and I'm totally here for it.
With a visit from Krista's grandfather visiting from Venezuela for the summer she is able to learn the struggles that her ancestors faced as Hungarian Jews during World War II. Hearing stories of her grandfather's loss and fear during such a hard time of his life and how he came to except that he could not hate everyone who had done him wrong. Through her grandfathers stories Krista is able to come to terms with what the boy in house 758 did and get the proper help needed to start healing and moving forward in life.
The house at 758 is expected to be released on October 17th 2017
Rating: 3.75
I honestly wasn't too sure what to expect going into The house at 758. This is a book that's been translated from Spanish into English so I wasn't sure if there would be large Hispanic influences that i wouldn't fully understand but, decided to give it a shot anyway. I am SO glad that I did. Our MC Krista is living in the San Francisco area living with her father and his girlfriend Marie while dealing with the loss of her mother two years prior. In the beginning we learn that she is obsessed with house number 758 and the people inside of it, sitting out on the road watching it's activities multiple days in a row just hoping to catch a glimpse of him.
Krista is very relatable in the fact that she has inner struggles about things a lot of readers can relate to such as the loss of a parent, having her first serious relationship and spending the summer away from her best friend. She's not the 'roll out of bed perfect' MC that we too often see in YA novels and I'm totally here for it.
With a visit from Krista's grandfather visiting from Venezuela for the summer she is able to learn the struggles that her ancestors faced as Hungarian Jews during World War II. Hearing stories of her grandfather's loss and fear during such a hard time of his life and how he came to except that he could not hate everyone who had done him wrong. Through her grandfathers stories Krista is able to come to terms with what the boy in house 758 did and get the proper help needed to start healing and moving forward in life.
The house at 758 is expected to be released on October 17th 2017
October 17, 2017
I received this book from the author for honest review.
I remember reading her first book Dream Me. I fell in love!
I was excited to read this book! I couldn't wait to read it.
This book was so beautiful!
This book was different from the first book.
This story tells about a girl who lost her mother in a young age. How she can't get over her mother death. How she dealing with it. There a mystery The House at 758 surrounding that she want to now about. Her grandfather was living with her for a short time. There is story of her grandpa and the Holocaust.
While I was reading I was crying. I couldn't imagine how sad she was to hear this story from her grandpa and dealing with her mother death. There was also romance that I was happy about.
The most important thing about this to me is that you never now what in life gives you. You never forget about the past even if it so bad and sad. All you can do is remember the things that happen and how it will change you.
I can relate to this book because I lose my mother at a very young age.
This book was well written! The characters are just perfect! The theme and setting was well put together.
This book had all type of emotions. I was sad, I cryed, and I was happy.
I highly recommend everybody get this book and read it.
I can't wait for her next book! 💖💖💖💖💖
I remember reading her first book Dream Me. I fell in love!
I was excited to read this book! I couldn't wait to read it.
This book was so beautiful!
This book was different from the first book.
This story tells about a girl who lost her mother in a young age. How she can't get over her mother death. How she dealing with it. There a mystery The House at 758 surrounding that she want to now about. Her grandfather was living with her for a short time. There is story of her grandpa and the Holocaust.
While I was reading I was crying. I couldn't imagine how sad she was to hear this story from her grandpa and dealing with her mother death. There was also romance that I was happy about.
The most important thing about this to me is that you never now what in life gives you. You never forget about the past even if it so bad and sad. All you can do is remember the things that happen and how it will change you.
I can relate to this book because I lose my mother at a very young age.
This book was well written! The characters are just perfect! The theme and setting was well put together.
This book had all type of emotions. I was sad, I cryed, and I was happy.
I highly recommend everybody get this book and read it.
I can't wait for her next book! 💖💖💖💖💖
June 11, 2017
*I RECEIVED AN E-ARC OF THIS BOOK FROM NETGALLEY IN EXCHANGE FOR MY HONEST REVIEW*
A sweet story about learning to cope with loss.
I found Krista to be a relatable character, with good character development. I enjoyed her relationship with the other characters in the book.
A sweet story about learning to cope with loss.
I found Krista to be a relatable character, with good character development. I enjoyed her relationship with the other characters in the book.
June 26, 2017
Received a copy via Netgalley
August 14, 2017
This book features a coming-of-age story about Krista, whose mother recently died. She hasn't yet gotten over the death and is still burdened with grief every day. Krista deals with her grief by periodically visiting a house, the house at 758, which has a significant meaning to her. We spend half of the story trying to piece together the mystery surrounding that house and its inhabitants, although I guessed rather early on what her reasons were for continually going there. In the latter half of the story, we learn about Krista's grandfather, who has come to stay with her for a short time, and his years spent in camps during the Holocaust. We hear stories from his life, so although this is a contemporary book, there are bits and pieces of powerful 1940s historical fiction.
Krista's grandpa's story is more than just a war narrative, though: it's a passionate story focused on the time we have left on this earth and making the most of that time. That is ultimately what the whole book is about, and the grandpa's stories tie very well into that.
The main emphasis of this story is the importance of family. Although there is a mild romance in this contemporary novel, it is like the third or forth sub-plot, which I found to be refreshing. The romance was the only part that I found to be slightly unrealistic. It moved a little too fast, probably so it could fit into the short book, but I did appreciate that it remained a clean romance.
The House at 758 is a simple story, calm and relaxing, but powerful. It's about how one small moment in someone's life can make a lifelong impact in someone else's life. These important messages are delivered through Berla's lyrical prose that was easy to enjoy. Although a shorter read, this book doesn't lack in characterization or depth, for the most part.
I really like Krista as a protagonist, and I'm going to miss reading from her perspective now that the book is over. I related a lot to her, and it was comforting to read about her and her life.
Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Also view this review on my blog: http://mystoreysofstories.blogspot.co...
Krista's grandpa's story is more than just a war narrative, though: it's a passionate story focused on the time we have left on this earth and making the most of that time. That is ultimately what the whole book is about, and the grandpa's stories tie very well into that.
The main emphasis of this story is the importance of family. Although there is a mild romance in this contemporary novel, it is like the third or forth sub-plot, which I found to be refreshing. The romance was the only part that I found to be slightly unrealistic. It moved a little too fast, probably so it could fit into the short book, but I did appreciate that it remained a clean romance.
The House at 758 is a simple story, calm and relaxing, but powerful. It's about how one small moment in someone's life can make a lifelong impact in someone else's life. These important messages are delivered through Berla's lyrical prose that was easy to enjoy. Although a shorter read, this book doesn't lack in characterization or depth, for the most part.
I really like Krista as a protagonist, and I'm going to miss reading from her perspective now that the book is over. I related a lot to her, and it was comforting to read about her and her life.
"Hate doesn’t hurt the hated person . . . it only hurts the person who hates.”
Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Also view this review on my blog: http://mystoreysofstories.blogspot.co...
September 13, 2021
Disclaimer: I receive a copy of this book from the Author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my review in anyway.
The House at 758 is a deeply moving coming of age story written by Kathryn Berla. We meet Krista, a girl that was still grieving over her mother's death and is having a hard time adjusting after his father's new love interest moves in the house with them. She then tries to deal with her grief by obsessively going to the house at 758. But it isn't until her grandfather visits and help her face the struggle she was in.
I definitely enjoyed being there with Krista on her step by step journey on acceptance and moving on. I love how the whole story was true to life and people can definitely relate to what Krista has gone through. I know all of us at some point have lost a loved one and I know that everyone of us has gone through the phase Krista was in.
The writing style was not really my favorite. I don't know if it was due to the book being a translated version but still, the whole story and message of the book was still very evident. With just around 200 pages or more, this book was full of emotion and shows the point of view of a person dealing with grief and the process of acceptance. This book did not only entertain but also gave me a new perspective in life.
Character development was also very apparent in this book. Almost all character seems to be different at the end. It was not only Krista who conquered grief but also her father who was able to let everything out and was able to understand how her daughter feels.
There was also romance in this book but I love how it was executed perfectly especially because Krista was pushing the guy at first which is very true to life especially for a person who is experiencing grief.
Last but not the least is Krista's re-connection with her grandfather. It is not just the historical references that I love but how his grandfather helped her to let things go. It was just sweet that even though they are not really close before, there was a bond between them that blossomed in a short period of time. He didn't just thought Krista but me, as a reader and person as well.
If you want a soul stirring book and full of intense emotion that will teach you many important things in life, then go and grab a copy of The House at 758.
Final Rating: 4/5
The House at 758 is a deeply moving coming of age story written by Kathryn Berla. We meet Krista, a girl that was still grieving over her mother's death and is having a hard time adjusting after his father's new love interest moves in the house with them. She then tries to deal with her grief by obsessively going to the house at 758. But it isn't until her grandfather visits and help her face the struggle she was in.
I definitely enjoyed being there with Krista on her step by step journey on acceptance and moving on. I love how the whole story was true to life and people can definitely relate to what Krista has gone through. I know all of us at some point have lost a loved one and I know that everyone of us has gone through the phase Krista was in.
The writing style was not really my favorite. I don't know if it was due to the book being a translated version but still, the whole story and message of the book was still very evident. With just around 200 pages or more, this book was full of emotion and shows the point of view of a person dealing with grief and the process of acceptance. This book did not only entertain but also gave me a new perspective in life.
Character development was also very apparent in this book. Almost all character seems to be different at the end. It was not only Krista who conquered grief but also her father who was able to let everything out and was able to understand how her daughter feels.
There was also romance in this book but I love how it was executed perfectly especially because Krista was pushing the guy at first which is very true to life especially for a person who is experiencing grief.
Last but not the least is Krista's re-connection with her grandfather. It is not just the historical references that I love but how his grandfather helped her to let things go. It was just sweet that even though they are not really close before, there was a bond between them that blossomed in a short period of time. He didn't just thought Krista but me, as a reader and person as well.
If you want a soul stirring book and full of intense emotion that will teach you many important things in life, then go and grab a copy of The House at 758.
Final Rating: 4/5
September 18, 2018
Representation: The MC is part-Venezuelan; also pretty sure she has depression
Triggers: death of a parent, sick family, depression
When I first requested this from Netgalley early-2017 (sorry, publisher!) I remember thinking that the synopsis sounded like just my cup of tea. It took me a long while to read it, and although I had my issues with this book, I still fully appreciate what this book was about. So, to get the disclaimer out of the way, if this book sounds interesting to you? Go for it, because you'll find something in here that you'll love.
I, for one, loved that the main focus of the novel remained strictly on family. It was about the protagonist's mother's death and the aftermath, how she's dealing with the loss. How she's moving on, if she's moving on at all. There's emphasis on Krista's frigid relationship with her father, and whether this can ever be resolved. We see Krista's development of a bond with a grandfather she's largely been estranged from her entire life, as well as her growing closer to her step-siblings, even if their mother is a woman she can't stand. The familial relationships in this book are really well-developed, to the point where the slight romance felt completely unnecessary. It didn't need to be there because the book was never about anything but Krista and her family.
But while this aspect (as well as discussions about forgiveness and hatred) were done really well, I can't help but feel that this story would have been best-served as a short story. Because of its laser-precise focus on family and little else, I felt the story could have been told in 20-30 pages. There's a lot of filler in between the pivotal moments, from unnecessary letters and backstory to pointless depictions of Krista's day-to-day movements such as going to the mall or putting on her clothes. Remove the padding and you would have gotten a sharp but moving piece of writing. I thought this all throughout the book - how much better it would have been had it been a short story. And that's all I can say for it, in the end.
I received an ARC of this via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Triggers: death of a parent, sick family, depression
When I first requested this from Netgalley early-2017 (sorry, publisher!) I remember thinking that the synopsis sounded like just my cup of tea. It took me a long while to read it, and although I had my issues with this book, I still fully appreciate what this book was about. So, to get the disclaimer out of the way, if this book sounds interesting to you? Go for it, because you'll find something in here that you'll love.
I, for one, loved that the main focus of the novel remained strictly on family. It was about the protagonist's mother's death and the aftermath, how she's dealing with the loss. How she's moving on, if she's moving on at all. There's emphasis on Krista's frigid relationship with her father, and whether this can ever be resolved. We see Krista's development of a bond with a grandfather she's largely been estranged from her entire life, as well as her growing closer to her step-siblings, even if their mother is a woman she can't stand. The familial relationships in this book are really well-developed, to the point where the slight romance felt completely unnecessary. It didn't need to be there because the book was never about anything but Krista and her family.
But while this aspect (as well as discussions about forgiveness and hatred) were done really well, I can't help but feel that this story would have been best-served as a short story. Because of its laser-precise focus on family and little else, I felt the story could have been told in 20-30 pages. There's a lot of filler in between the pivotal moments, from unnecessary letters and backstory to pointless depictions of Krista's day-to-day movements such as going to the mall or putting on her clothes. Remove the padding and you would have gotten a sharp but moving piece of writing. I thought this all throughout the book - how much better it would have been had it been a short story. And that's all I can say for it, in the end.
I received an ARC of this via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 30, 2022
Book Review
Title: The House at 758
Author: Kathryn Berla
Genre: YA/Family
Rating: *****
Review: All I knew about The House at 759 was it follows 16 year old Krista, whose mother has died and while her father is moving on she is struggling to do the same. We are introduced to Krista as she has become obsessed with House 758 after the death of her mother and she can’t cope with the fact that her father has already moved on with another woman, Marie who is now living with them and it seems like they are trying to make the best of a bad situation but Krista isn’t ready to let go just yet. Krista’s best friend Lyla is going to Maine for the summer and Krista’s father has told her she needs to do something with her summer instead of sitting around. Even though we haven’t been told we can assume Krista’s mother has been dead over a year and the day Marie moved in, Krista moved into her tent on the garage roof, so they don’t actually live in the same house as each other.
As we approach the ¼ mark in the novel, Krista’s father doesn’t even seem to realise that his daughter is drowning in her grief as she is skipping her therapy sessions, doesn’t see any of her friends except Lyla and even begins stealing. The stealing is something which is going to develop as the novel progresses I believe as the boy working in the store, Jake, is someone that knows her from school and even comes to her house to find out why she stole from the store even when she has the money to pay for it but he doesn’t turn her in and I think that is because he knows about the situation she is in right now. Her father has also told her she will be looking after her grandfather when he arrives from Venezuela while he, Marie and Marie’s children are going to Disneyland. The responsibility of caring for Charlie the parakeet which belonged to her mother has also fallen to Krista as her father seems to have forgotten about him completely.
As we cross the ¼ mark in the novel, after Jake comes by she decides to return the item she stole and apologize which prompts Jake to come around again and talk to her. He invites her to a street fair in Napa the next day and without consulting her father or Marie she accepts. Before they go out, Marie asks her to pick some stuff up for the kids and as she wants Marie on her side she says just but we can clearly see Krista resents Marie and the space she has taken that belonged to her mother. That night when she goes out with Jake, they have a great time but when he tries to kiss Krista at the end of the night she pushes him away because she doesn’t feel that she deserves to be happy and despite the crushing loneliness she feels she also doesn’t want to do anything to change that. We can also see that her father and Marie are trying to get her more involved with the younger kids but she doesn’t want to even speak to the people she doesn’t feel belong in her family even if it does make her father happy.
As we approach the halfway mark in the novel, Krista seems to have an okay relationship with Chad, Marie’s son while Emma, her daughter is quite little. Krista ends up taking to house 758 and there seems to be something about this house that draws Krista in and her father wants her to stay away from it. When her dad confronts her about taking the children there, he wants her to go back to therapist and she sees getting really mad at him but we do get a heart warming scene between Chad and Krista where he says she doesn’t have to explain herself because he gets it and when he confesses to lying about seeing Jake flirting with another girl, she can’t even summon the energy to be mad at him for it because he doesn’t want to get inside her head like everyone else.
As we cross into the second half of the novel, Krista hasn’t reconnected with Jake after the terrible ending to their date but she is building a connection with Chad and his love of soccer even inspires her to get back into fitness herself, even if it isn’t swimming. We also get three major scenes in this part of the novel as we learn Krista’s mother was killing by Omar Aziz who was texting while driving and the house Krista has been going to is his home. Omar was convicted as a minor and only served two years because his family was financial dependent on him after his father was killed in Afghanistan as he was a translator with the US military. Omar had been working three jobs the night he killed Krista’s mother and was texting his boss. Krista doesn’t seem to hate him but she can’t let Omar go and she feels that two years wasn’t enough for taking her mother away. Krista and her father have a massive argument over this which leads to both of them breaking down, showing neither has really moved on from it even though it seemed like it on the surface. The final big scene is where we are introduced to Krista’s grandfather, Gyuri and he explains grief, loss and moving on in a way that is simple for Krista to understand. She is also considering finishing her mother’s documentary about her family’s history with the Holocaust, which might help her find some closure.
As we approach the ¾ mark in the novel, there seems to be something wrong with Krista’s grandfather but we don’t know what it is yet but they spend some quality tome together as he has given her unspoken permission to finish her mother’s project as he tells her all about his life growing up in Nazi Germany and how his entire family was taken and killed by them in different ways which she records in her mother’s unfinished journal. She is also back talking to Jake and they are in a relationship now, they even start running together which helps effectively take her mind of Omar and what he did to their family. I did like the fact that the state of the family in reflected in Charlie, the bird, who looks very sickly at the beginning of the book but by the time Gyuri has been there a few days he is beginning to heal, much like Krista and the family in general.
As we cross into the final section of the novel, finally found some resolution but it does leave us with the message that things like loss and grief don’t go away overnight, in fact they never go away, you just notice it less as time passes. By the end, we see a brief confrontation between Omar and Krista but she can’t say anything in that moment, and we also learn that it wasn’t just Krista’s mother that died that day but her younger sister, Lucy too. However, as the novel draws to a close we see that Krista has started seeing her therapist again taking her grandfather’s word to heart, she relationship with Jake is great and the relationship with her father is getting better. Together, she and her father visit the Aziz family one last time although we don’t know what happened in this interaction. Her father and Marie also take a break thinking of what is best for their children before getting into a relationship that neither of them is really ready for. Overall, The House at 758 was beautiful and heartfelt and made me tear up more than once.
Title: The House at 758
Author: Kathryn Berla
Genre: YA/Family
Rating: *****
Review: All I knew about The House at 759 was it follows 16 year old Krista, whose mother has died and while her father is moving on she is struggling to do the same. We are introduced to Krista as she has become obsessed with House 758 after the death of her mother and she can’t cope with the fact that her father has already moved on with another woman, Marie who is now living with them and it seems like they are trying to make the best of a bad situation but Krista isn’t ready to let go just yet. Krista’s best friend Lyla is going to Maine for the summer and Krista’s father has told her she needs to do something with her summer instead of sitting around. Even though we haven’t been told we can assume Krista’s mother has been dead over a year and the day Marie moved in, Krista moved into her tent on the garage roof, so they don’t actually live in the same house as each other.
As we approach the ¼ mark in the novel, Krista’s father doesn’t even seem to realise that his daughter is drowning in her grief as she is skipping her therapy sessions, doesn’t see any of her friends except Lyla and even begins stealing. The stealing is something which is going to develop as the novel progresses I believe as the boy working in the store, Jake, is someone that knows her from school and even comes to her house to find out why she stole from the store even when she has the money to pay for it but he doesn’t turn her in and I think that is because he knows about the situation she is in right now. Her father has also told her she will be looking after her grandfather when he arrives from Venezuela while he, Marie and Marie’s children are going to Disneyland. The responsibility of caring for Charlie the parakeet which belonged to her mother has also fallen to Krista as her father seems to have forgotten about him completely.
As we cross the ¼ mark in the novel, after Jake comes by she decides to return the item she stole and apologize which prompts Jake to come around again and talk to her. He invites her to a street fair in Napa the next day and without consulting her father or Marie she accepts. Before they go out, Marie asks her to pick some stuff up for the kids and as she wants Marie on her side she says just but we can clearly see Krista resents Marie and the space she has taken that belonged to her mother. That night when she goes out with Jake, they have a great time but when he tries to kiss Krista at the end of the night she pushes him away because she doesn’t feel that she deserves to be happy and despite the crushing loneliness she feels she also doesn’t want to do anything to change that. We can also see that her father and Marie are trying to get her more involved with the younger kids but she doesn’t want to even speak to the people she doesn’t feel belong in her family even if it does make her father happy.
As we approach the halfway mark in the novel, Krista seems to have an okay relationship with Chad, Marie’s son while Emma, her daughter is quite little. Krista ends up taking to house 758 and there seems to be something about this house that draws Krista in and her father wants her to stay away from it. When her dad confronts her about taking the children there, he wants her to go back to therapist and she sees getting really mad at him but we do get a heart warming scene between Chad and Krista where he says she doesn’t have to explain herself because he gets it and when he confesses to lying about seeing Jake flirting with another girl, she can’t even summon the energy to be mad at him for it because he doesn’t want to get inside her head like everyone else.
As we cross into the second half of the novel, Krista hasn’t reconnected with Jake after the terrible ending to their date but she is building a connection with Chad and his love of soccer even inspires her to get back into fitness herself, even if it isn’t swimming. We also get three major scenes in this part of the novel as we learn Krista’s mother was killing by Omar Aziz who was texting while driving and the house Krista has been going to is his home. Omar was convicted as a minor and only served two years because his family was financial dependent on him after his father was killed in Afghanistan as he was a translator with the US military. Omar had been working three jobs the night he killed Krista’s mother and was texting his boss. Krista doesn’t seem to hate him but she can’t let Omar go and she feels that two years wasn’t enough for taking her mother away. Krista and her father have a massive argument over this which leads to both of them breaking down, showing neither has really moved on from it even though it seemed like it on the surface. The final big scene is where we are introduced to Krista’s grandfather, Gyuri and he explains grief, loss and moving on in a way that is simple for Krista to understand. She is also considering finishing her mother’s documentary about her family’s history with the Holocaust, which might help her find some closure.
As we approach the ¾ mark in the novel, there seems to be something wrong with Krista’s grandfather but we don’t know what it is yet but they spend some quality tome together as he has given her unspoken permission to finish her mother’s project as he tells her all about his life growing up in Nazi Germany and how his entire family was taken and killed by them in different ways which she records in her mother’s unfinished journal. She is also back talking to Jake and they are in a relationship now, they even start running together which helps effectively take her mind of Omar and what he did to their family. I did like the fact that the state of the family in reflected in Charlie, the bird, who looks very sickly at the beginning of the book but by the time Gyuri has been there a few days he is beginning to heal, much like Krista and the family in general.
As we cross into the final section of the novel, finally found some resolution but it does leave us with the message that things like loss and grief don’t go away overnight, in fact they never go away, you just notice it less as time passes. By the end, we see a brief confrontation between Omar and Krista but she can’t say anything in that moment, and we also learn that it wasn’t just Krista’s mother that died that day but her younger sister, Lucy too. However, as the novel draws to a close we see that Krista has started seeing her therapist again taking her grandfather’s word to heart, she relationship with Jake is great and the relationship with her father is getting better. Together, she and her father visit the Aziz family one last time although we don’t know what happened in this interaction. Her father and Marie also take a break thinking of what is best for their children before getting into a relationship that neither of them is really ready for. Overall, The House at 758 was beautiful and heartfelt and made me tear up more than once.
December 14, 2018
Un libro juvenil pero que me ha resultado muy bonito y entretenido en su lectura. Y bueno, una historia que, ahora que soy madre de un adolescente, me recuerda lo difícil que resulta esa etapa; la adolescencia es difícil y diría que incluso traumática en algunos casos.. Y si encima ha ocurrido algún hecho como el que sufre la chica del libro, aún más.
Es conmovedor, amable, simpático, tierno... Y bonito, sobre todo bonito.
Los libros de esta editorial siempre son sobre temas sociales y/o de superación, pero en este caso debo decir que he echado de menos algo más de profundidad en lo que se presenta en la historia. En primer lugar, en la sinopsis nos habla del abuelo y del Holocausto, y en realidad el abuelo aparece en la mitad del libro y durante pocas páginas.
A pesar de encontrar que se ha quedado muy en la superficie de muchas cosas, el libro se lee genial y está muy bien escrito. Ah, y me ha gustado mucho que los desenlaces de la historia, sean desenlaces más o menos realistas y no nos quieran vender la moto de las familias mega felices.
¿Recomendaría este libro? Sí, una lectura muy agradable y que probablemente sea una buena opción si estáis buscando un regalo para un adolescente.
Es conmovedor, amable, simpático, tierno... Y bonito, sobre todo bonito.
Los libros de esta editorial siempre son sobre temas sociales y/o de superación, pero en este caso debo decir que he echado de menos algo más de profundidad en lo que se presenta en la historia. En primer lugar, en la sinopsis nos habla del abuelo y del Holocausto, y en realidad el abuelo aparece en la mitad del libro y durante pocas páginas.
A pesar de encontrar que se ha quedado muy en la superficie de muchas cosas, el libro se lee genial y está muy bien escrito. Ah, y me ha gustado mucho que los desenlaces de la historia, sean desenlaces más o menos realistas y no nos quieran vender la moto de las familias mega felices.
¿Recomendaría este libro? Sí, una lectura muy agradable y que probablemente sea una buena opción si estáis buscando un regalo para un adolescente.
March 1, 2014
Reseña completa: http://lasabiduriadeloslibros.blogspot.com/2014/03/resena-la-casa-758-de-kathryn-berla.html
3,5
La casa 758 es más que una novela en que la que la autora cuenta una historia y el lector la disfruta; La casa 758 es una novela repleta de sentimientos y emociones, totalmente realista, desgarradora en ciertos momentos pero muy amable en otros. Pese a contar con un misterio cuya resolución conoceremos demasiado precipitadamente o una protagonista bien perfilada en una parte y un poco infantil en otras, Kathryn nos hará disfrutar de una historia como esta, sorprendente y motivadora, con toques muy especiales que dejará al lector con ganas de más, con ganas de saber más acerca de Krista y las personas que la rodean.
3,5
La casa 758 es más que una novela en que la que la autora cuenta una historia y el lector la disfruta; La casa 758 es una novela repleta de sentimientos y emociones, totalmente realista, desgarradora en ciertos momentos pero muy amable en otros. Pese a contar con un misterio cuya resolución conoceremos demasiado precipitadamente o una protagonista bien perfilada en una parte y un poco infantil en otras, Kathryn nos hará disfrutar de una historia como esta, sorprendente y motivadora, con toques muy especiales que dejará al lector con ganas de más, con ganas de saber más acerca de Krista y las personas que la rodean.
November 24, 2017
I was provided an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The House at 758 tells the story of Krista. Krista is in High School, has exactly one friend and has suffered a terrible loss some time before. We learn more and more about that loss and how it happened as the book goes on.
I felt for Krista but she was still such a brat. I often wanted to shake her, she drove me insane at times.
I couldn’t relate with her.
The plot, however, wasn’t too bad, I mostly enjoyed the journey she went through and her growth...
The House at 758 tells the story of Krista. Krista is in High School, has exactly one friend and has suffered a terrible loss some time before. We learn more and more about that loss and how it happened as the book goes on.
I felt for Krista but she was still such a brat. I often wanted to shake her, she drove me insane at times.
I couldn’t relate with her.
The plot, however, wasn’t too bad, I mostly enjoyed the journey she went through and her growth...
July 7, 2017
Krista is still struggling with the death of her mother while her father seems to have moved on already. Her father’s new girlfriend Marie has moved into their house and her new stepbrother Chad and stepsister Emma stay with them every other weekend.
Yet Krista can’t get back to normal life. Instead she feels depressed and she keeps getting drawn to ‘the house at 758’.
Krista goes to the house at 758 a lot and sits outside the house in her car and just watches. So why is the house so important to her? That’s the question that’s there from the beginning of the book and it’s basically what the entire story revolves around.
Soon, it’s quite easy for the reader to connect a few dots (between what’s in the dialogue between Krista and her father, Krista’s grief, and the ‘him’ she hopes to see at the house at 758) and guess why this house, or rather the ‘him’ that lives there, is of importance.
It takes rather a long time for this reason to be revealed though, and since it was a little predictable and it was dragged out for so long, the big reveal was a bit disappointing. This mystery simply wasn’t as compelling as it could have been.
However, throughout the story there are a few hints that there’s more to the story about Krista’s grief. Certain ways of phrasing or word choices (hint: the use of plural instead of singular) give a clue as to what you, the reader, are not being told. This big reveal was much more gratifying, mostly because the hints were so subtle.
Krista’s character development is great. I made a note about her while reading chapter 4 that says: “Sulky, cocky teenager. Insufferable. So far, I do not like her one bit.”
She’s simply annoying in the first few chapters. Of course she’s having a hard time grieving the death of her mother and dealing with her father’s new girlfriend, but often she comes across as very self-absorbed and whiny. There’s only so much that her grief can excuse.
Fortunately, in later chapters, you learn more about Krista’s struggles (what she’s feeling and how she thinks other people see her) and it gets easier to sympathise with her.
The introduction of love interest Jake and the introduction of grandpa also have a good effect on Krista’s development and with that also on the development of the story as a whole.
There are also a few quotes in this book that are brilliant. For instance, Krista’s thoughts about how life is like a silent movie, and grandpa’s analogy between adding ingredients to soup and adding to your life.
Overall, it’s a good story. The first third of the book is slow-paced and a bit dull, but Krista’s character development and the introduction of Jake and Krista’s grandpa speed things up a little and make the story much more compelling.
4 out of 5 stars.
Note: I received a free e-ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own and completely unbiased.
This review can also be found on writtenbylarissa.com: https://writtenbylarissa.com/2017/07/...
Yet Krista can’t get back to normal life. Instead she feels depressed and she keeps getting drawn to ‘the house at 758’.
Krista goes to the house at 758 a lot and sits outside the house in her car and just watches. So why is the house so important to her? That’s the question that’s there from the beginning of the book and it’s basically what the entire story revolves around.
Soon, it’s quite easy for the reader to connect a few dots (between what’s in the dialogue between Krista and her father, Krista’s grief, and the ‘him’ she hopes to see at the house at 758) and guess why this house, or rather the ‘him’ that lives there, is of importance.
It takes rather a long time for this reason to be revealed though, and since it was a little predictable and it was dragged out for so long, the big reveal was a bit disappointing. This mystery simply wasn’t as compelling as it could have been.
However, throughout the story there are a few hints that there’s more to the story about Krista’s grief. Certain ways of phrasing or word choices (hint: the use of plural instead of singular) give a clue as to what you, the reader, are not being told. This big reveal was much more gratifying, mostly because the hints were so subtle.
Krista’s character development is great. I made a note about her while reading chapter 4 that says: “Sulky, cocky teenager. Insufferable. So far, I do not like her one bit.”
She’s simply annoying in the first few chapters. Of course she’s having a hard time grieving the death of her mother and dealing with her father’s new girlfriend, but often she comes across as very self-absorbed and whiny. There’s only so much that her grief can excuse.
Fortunately, in later chapters, you learn more about Krista’s struggles (what she’s feeling and how she thinks other people see her) and it gets easier to sympathise with her.
The introduction of love interest Jake and the introduction of grandpa also have a good effect on Krista’s development and with that also on the development of the story as a whole.
There are also a few quotes in this book that are brilliant. For instance, Krista’s thoughts about how life is like a silent movie, and grandpa’s analogy between adding ingredients to soup and adding to your life.
Overall, it’s a good story. The first third of the book is slow-paced and a bit dull, but Krista’s character development and the introduction of Jake and Krista’s grandpa speed things up a little and make the story much more compelling.
4 out of 5 stars.
Note: I received a free e-ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own and completely unbiased.
This review can also be found on writtenbylarissa.com: https://writtenbylarissa.com/2017/07/...
December 7, 2017
“I don’t exactly want to be okay with being okay.”
The House at 758 is a coming of age story, and one of dealing with grief, about a seventeen-year-old girl named Krista. She is suffering from the grief of losing her mother. On top of all of this she is learning how to deal with the fact that her father has seemingly moved on with his life. He has a new woman in her home and she has brought with her two children of her own. This has been a major betrayal to Krista.
“But my father didn’t have this problem. He had moved on with his life. He didn’t need a new car or anything else. It happened just like that. One day we were like two planets orbiting around the same sun- granted it was a miserable sun, but we were there together, and we understood each other even if we didn’t have much to say during those days. The next thing I knew, my father sort of spun out of my orbit and went on with his life, and I was alone. The only person who could feel what I felt and knew what I knew… well, he had other plans for his life, and I couldn’t hitch a ride with him. Maybe if he wanted me to; I’m sure he did. But I couldn’t and still don’t understand how he could just move forward.”
Another secret within the book is this house, the house at 758. There is a lot of mystery behind it and the secrets that are held around the home.
“7-5-8. I know I’ll be back.”
“But I know what I’m going to do, so who am I kidding? I’m going to the only place where I don’t have to hide what I feel. I’m going back to 758.”
It will become a large piece of her healing, she just hasn’t realized how largely yet.
There are also the secondary characters in the book that we get to meet. The boy James, who she gives a small chance and accepts a date with him. However, she feels an extreme guilt for the happiness she experiences when she is with him and it isn’t long before she is finding herself pushing him away as well.
“Doesn’t he know who I am? Doesn’t he know I’m that girl? The broken girl. The girl who breaks things. The one with no right to feel happiness… or love.”
We also meet her grandfather, that Krista in in charge of taking care of for the summer. There is a lot of family secrets that she is about to learn from him and will also play a role in her overcoming her grief.
“You’re young, Krista. Trust me when I tell you that you’re going to have a life. You’ll never get back what you lost but you can go on with what you have now- and build on it.”
This was the first book I have read by Kathryn Berla. While I enjoyed the writing style of her, it took a good half of the book before I was really hooked into the story line and wanted to continue reading till I found out the meaning behind the house at 758, and the secrets that her family history holds. Once those things got a bit more introduced, the story began to flow well and then did capture my interest until the ending. This is really the only reason I gave it four instead of five stars. I do think I would be interested in reading more of Kathryn’s work in the future though.
The House at 758 is a coming of age story, and one of dealing with grief, about a seventeen-year-old girl named Krista. She is suffering from the grief of losing her mother. On top of all of this she is learning how to deal with the fact that her father has seemingly moved on with his life. He has a new woman in her home and she has brought with her two children of her own. This has been a major betrayal to Krista.
“But my father didn’t have this problem. He had moved on with his life. He didn’t need a new car or anything else. It happened just like that. One day we were like two planets orbiting around the same sun- granted it was a miserable sun, but we were there together, and we understood each other even if we didn’t have much to say during those days. The next thing I knew, my father sort of spun out of my orbit and went on with his life, and I was alone. The only person who could feel what I felt and knew what I knew… well, he had other plans for his life, and I couldn’t hitch a ride with him. Maybe if he wanted me to; I’m sure he did. But I couldn’t and still don’t understand how he could just move forward.”
Another secret within the book is this house, the house at 758. There is a lot of mystery behind it and the secrets that are held around the home.
“7-5-8. I know I’ll be back.”
“But I know what I’m going to do, so who am I kidding? I’m going to the only place where I don’t have to hide what I feel. I’m going back to 758.”
It will become a large piece of her healing, she just hasn’t realized how largely yet.
There are also the secondary characters in the book that we get to meet. The boy James, who she gives a small chance and accepts a date with him. However, she feels an extreme guilt for the happiness she experiences when she is with him and it isn’t long before she is finding herself pushing him away as well.
“Doesn’t he know who I am? Doesn’t he know I’m that girl? The broken girl. The girl who breaks things. The one with no right to feel happiness… or love.”
We also meet her grandfather, that Krista in in charge of taking care of for the summer. There is a lot of family secrets that she is about to learn from him and will also play a role in her overcoming her grief.
“You’re young, Krista. Trust me when I tell you that you’re going to have a life. You’ll never get back what you lost but you can go on with what you have now- and build on it.”
This was the first book I have read by Kathryn Berla. While I enjoyed the writing style of her, it took a good half of the book before I was really hooked into the story line and wanted to continue reading till I found out the meaning behind the house at 758, and the secrets that her family history holds. Once those things got a bit more introduced, the story began to flow well and then did capture my interest until the ending. This is really the only reason I gave it four instead of five stars. I do think I would be interested in reading more of Kathryn’s work in the future though.
September 25, 2017
I received this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much to the author who sent me a copy!!
This review is also up on my blog https://thegliderbookworm.wordpress.com/
Ok, so I am SOOO happy to announce that I really enjoyed this book!! I will admit, I was a bit hesitant but DANG my hesitations were proved so very wrong. This book is an incredible story about a girl who had to fight her way back to happiness and acceptance after a life-changing accident that sent her into a dark pit full of uncertainty. The detailed writing allowed me to see and follow the scenes in my head. Something that I really noticed (and loved) was that the characters in the book were so relatable along with the obstacles they faced! It really helps when readers have something they can relate to and can add a certain effect that makes them feel like they're not alone in this world. Along with that, all the characters were very well thought-out and described. Let me put it this way, in some books, you read the characters and move on, but end up thinking later on, "Who was that person again?" Yeah, no. Not in this book. Even I (Who is like Dory and forgets everything) could remember which character was which. My favorite character due to his hilarious personality was probably the Grandfather.
So, I believe that I saw some symbolism in this book, and it was such a lovely literary aspect to add. It gave the story some more OMPH! Do to spoilers, I can't say the symbolism, but just know that it's there...Symbolism wasn't the only other aspect though. I personally loved the flashbacks that were included in this story. Those helped give readers some needed background information of certain characters along with answers to questions that I had.
Here are some things I wasn't too fond of...
-The Grandfather was there for a reason (again I can't spoil why) and that whole reason dead-ended. It sounded serious and had a serious vibe, so....What happened??
-Some scenes in the book were unnecessary and contributed nothing to the story. A certain scene was a little too repetitive for my taste.
All in all, I give this book 3.5 stars. It had such an inspiring message of forgiveness and acceptance that I related to as I'm sure many others can as well. While it had some imperfections, it's a good, solid read and I recommend it to people who enjoy thought-provoking books along with a dose of reality. Thank you so much to the author who sent me a copy! I truly enjoyed it.
This review is also up on my blog https://thegliderbookworm.wordpress.com/
Ok, so I am SOOO happy to announce that I really enjoyed this book!! I will admit, I was a bit hesitant but DANG my hesitations were proved so very wrong. This book is an incredible story about a girl who had to fight her way back to happiness and acceptance after a life-changing accident that sent her into a dark pit full of uncertainty. The detailed writing allowed me to see and follow the scenes in my head. Something that I really noticed (and loved) was that the characters in the book were so relatable along with the obstacles they faced! It really helps when readers have something they can relate to and can add a certain effect that makes them feel like they're not alone in this world. Along with that, all the characters were very well thought-out and described. Let me put it this way, in some books, you read the characters and move on, but end up thinking later on, "Who was that person again?" Yeah, no. Not in this book. Even I (Who is like Dory and forgets everything) could remember which character was which. My favorite character due to his hilarious personality was probably the Grandfather.
So, I believe that I saw some symbolism in this book, and it was such a lovely literary aspect to add. It gave the story some more OMPH! Do to spoilers, I can't say the symbolism, but just know that it's there...Symbolism wasn't the only other aspect though. I personally loved the flashbacks that were included in this story. Those helped give readers some needed background information of certain characters along with answers to questions that I had.
Here are some things I wasn't too fond of...
-The Grandfather was there for a reason (again I can't spoil why) and that whole reason dead-ended. It sounded serious and had a serious vibe, so....What happened??
-Some scenes in the book were unnecessary and contributed nothing to the story. A certain scene was a little too repetitive for my taste.
All in all, I give this book 3.5 stars. It had such an inspiring message of forgiveness and acceptance that I related to as I'm sure many others can as well. While it had some imperfections, it's a good, solid read and I recommend it to people who enjoy thought-provoking books along with a dose of reality. Thank you so much to the author who sent me a copy! I truly enjoyed it.
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