The Puttermans Are in the House

by Jacquetta Nammar Feldman

A heartfelt and hopeful middle grade novel from Jacquetta Nammar Feldman, author of the Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection Wishing Upon the Same Stars , about family, joy, and growing up in the aftermath of a natural disaster. Perfect for fans of Nic Stone’s Fast Pitch and Erin Entrada Kelly’s We Dream of Space.

Seventh graders Sammy and Matty are the Putterman twins—the perfect team of two. But Matty has a secret he’s not ready to share with his family yet, and he suddenly quits baseball and stops talking to his sister. With their twin telepathy broken, Sammy doesn’t know what to do without her teammate.

Becky Putterman is sick of her family only cheering for her cousins, Sammy and Matty. They all used to be friends, but since everything became about the twins, Becky’s felt left out. With her bat mitzvah around the corner, she hopes it’ll finally be her turn in the spotlight.

But then Hurricane Harvey hits Houston, Texas, and the twins’ house is damaged in the flood. Their family moves in with Becky’s—which no one is happy about. As their grief, anger, and uncertainty grow, they’ll soon find they need each other now more than ever before. With all nine Puttermans under one roof, can Sammy, Matty, and Becky find a way to glue their family back together?

Genres: Middle Grade, Sports, Realistic Fiction, LGBT, Family, Young Adult, Childrens

368 pages, Hardcover

Published January 17, 2023

About the author

Jacquetta Nammar Feldman loves writing poetry and stories of all kinds. When she's not curled up with a book or typing at her computer, she can be found hiking the beautiful hills of Austin, Texas. She earned her bachelor of science in advertising from the University of Texas at Austin, and she’s currently a candidate for a master of fine arts in Writing for Children and Young Adults at the Vermont College of Fine Arts.

Reviews

[Heather Slaugh Webb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Checked the audio book out last minute to listen to in the car with my two oldest, ages 11 and 9. I did not expect the more mature content about first kisses and coming out to your family and I was worried about it at first, but I decided I'd rather push through and have conversations about their questions rather than panic and turn it off and leave them with their questions. It turned out to be more about how family relationships change over time and had some really great messages about being your best self, including thinking of others and their feelings, and cheering as hard for your family members as this family did for the Astros. I loved that my kids got to hear about one of the character's bat mitzvah and how it pushed her to reconcile with her cousins. Overall pretty good.

[Valerie McEnroe · Rating 2 out of 5]

7th graders Sammy and Matty are fraternal girl/boy twins who love everything baseball, especially the Houston Astros. Matty is the star pitcher on their team and they rarely lose. As the story opens, their team is ahead 6-0. Matty goes to the bathroom and doesn't return to finish the game. The team ends up losing. What happened to Matty? Eventually the reader learns that a boy kissed him and he doesn't know how to deal with it. He's not talking.

Fast forward a month and the family is in the middle of Hurricane Harvey, aka the Houston disaster of 2017. Their neighborhood is in a low spot and flooding so they escape to a shelter via kayaks. Luckily they have family nearby so they, along with their grandparents, a neighbor, and her cat, are taken in by their dad's brother who has an annoying daughter, cousin Becky. Becky is all about social media and cats. No one pays much attention to her so she spends her time photographing her cat in costumes and posting them online. The one thing she was looking forward to was her Bat Mitzvah celebration and now even that is taking a back seat to everything else.

Sammy and Matty's twin bond is disintegrating after what happened the day he walked off the game. He doesn't want Sammy to know he likes boys. So he ends up telling Becky. Given that she's prone to say whatever's on her mind, it's no surprise that she accidentally spills the beans about Matty. It ends up being a good thing because now Matty can let go of all the tension he's been holding inside. Everyone in his family is understanding and encourages him to be himself.

Homosexuality is a heavy topic for kids who are likely to pick up this book (as young as age 9). The cover and book description suggest nothing of the LQBT+ content, which I think is wrong. Kids should not be blindsided with something they may not be ready to understand.

[Mrs_R_Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story of family, loss, growing up and baseball told in three voices; Sammy, Matty & Becky. In alternating chapters the twins and their cousin tell us what it was like in Houston, Texas during and after Hurricane Harvey and the Astros run to the World Series.
Sammy and Matty are twins who used to be super close, until Matty left in the middle of a baseball game stating that he no longer liked the sport and then stopped talking to Sammy. Then after Harvey hits and the water rises, they all end up staying at their dad's brothers house. Becky and the twins used to be close, but not anymore. Now the 9 Puttermans, Mrs. Sokoloff (a neighbor) & their 3 pets Bialy (golden retriever) Jess (tabby cat), and Bartholomew (hairless sphynx) are all under the same roof. There is a LGBT aspect in this book.
No sex, No bad language. 2 kisses

I really liked this story. I laughed and cried with these characters. I believe that our students will like it. I will definitely be purchasing this one for my library.

Possible Triggers: Hurricane Harvey, Loss of a home

[Carli · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 for this heartfelt story of family and perseverance. The Puttermans are a tight-knit family who are thrown together under one roof in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey in Houston. The tween cousins, Becky and twins Sammy and Matty, narrate the story as they navigate Becky’s upcoming bat mitzvah and feelings of being the family outcast, Sammy’s feelings about her brother suddenly quitting their baseball team and pulling away from her, and Matty’s feelings for a teammate. Set against the backdrop of the Houston Astros’ World Series run, the family finds each other again through the tough times. It reads a little young, so I’d recommend it for grades 5-7.

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Als Jesse Vilinsky de narrator is, ga ik het z.s.m. lezen, ook al ken ik boek noch schrijver. Emoties leest zij zo goed dat het net is of je het zelf voelt en meemaakt en ik zit dan ook regelmatig met een dikke brok in mijn keel. Zo ook bij dit boek weer! Geslaagd YA-boek!

[Emily Springer]

0 stars. Woke agenda.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

**Some spoilers in weaknesses.**

Sammy and Matty live in Houston, Texas, and their whole family is very much immersed in baseball. Sammy is making her way on her team and rooting for the Astros, but in the middle of one game, Matty inexplicably quits and stops communicating with his twin, which is hard on Sammy. There are other things to worry about though; Hurrican Harvey devastates the area, and the Putterman's house is badly damaged. Their grandparents' house is also hard hit, and they all move in with Sammy's Uncle Mike and his family, including her cousin Becky. Becky has always had a difficult relationship with the twins, since she thinks the family thinks that they are special, and that her interests, which including dressing up her cat so she can post pictures on social media. Since she is preparing for her Bat Mitzvah, and things are thrown into confusion because of the storm, she's even angrier. We find out why Matty has distanced himself from Sammy, and see the various family members struggle as they find a way to rebuild everyone's lives after the external and internal storms.
Strengths: The details about being involved in a catastropic storm are very good; I especially liked that the parents had the children dress in swimsuits and then other clothes. That wouldn't have occurred to me but would be useful. The inclusion of an elderly neighbor in both their escape to the local school and also living with Becky's family was interesting and showed the value of extended community. The family's interest in baseball was something that held them together, and the fact that Becky didn't share this made it difficult for her to feel a part of the family. Since the grandparents live nearby, I'm sure that there was some competition among the grandchildren. Matty's reasons for not talking to his sister are explained, but I'm not sure how much should be revealed.
Weaknesses: Becky is a challenging character, and it was difficult to see her treat her cousins badly when they had suffered so much. It also didn't help (highlight to reveal spoiler): when Matty told her he had kissed his friend Ethan, and that's why he was quitting baseball, because there were no gay major league players. Every single person in Matty's family was supportive, so him keeping this secret from them and suffering so much over the incident seemed a bit odd. This was more like Penny's Green Eyes and Ham than Stamper's Small Town Pride.
What I really think: I have a lot of hurricane books already, and they don't circulate particularly well. Baseball is the least popular sport among my students, so I may pass on purchase at this time. It doesn't help that I'm almost out of money for this school year and will have a lot less money next year because a new middle school is opening and I'll have fewer students. Take a look at this one if you want family drama, Jewish culture, some LGBTQIA+ issues, baseball, or storm books.

[Michael Leali · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was super lucky to read an advanced copy of this incredible sophomore novel from Jacquetta Nammar Feldman. This is a powerful story about family, healing, and hope. I cannot wait for it to be out in the world for everyone else to read!

[Lisa Hoppe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a sweet story, but I thought all the baseball was a bit much, particularly since it was so specific.

[Rebecca Shelton · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The Puttermans Are in the House" dives into the complex dynamics of a close-knit family navigating significant changes and challenges. This story centers around the Putterman twins, Sammy and Matty, and their cousin Becky, as their lives are disrupted by Hurricane Harvey. The storm not only damages the twins' home but also brings the family under one roof, intensifying existing tensions and exposing hidden secrets.

Sammy and Matty have always been a team, but when Matty withdraws from baseball and stops communicating, their bond begins to fray. Becky, feeling overlooked in favor of her baseball-star cousins, hopes her upcoming bat mitzvah will shift some attention her way. However, the family's obsession with baseball overshadows even this important milestone in her life, highlighting the stark differences in how the family members are valued and treated.

The narrative is rich and engaging but suffers from being overly long and repetitive, which dilutes the impact of the story's more poignant moments. While the portrayal of family life and the struggles each member faces is compelling, the excessive focus on baseball can alienate readers who are not fans of the sport, as it dominates too much of the family's interactions and priorities.

Becky's character is particularly well-drawn, evoking sympathy as she navigates her desire for recognition and inclusion within her family. Her inadvertent outing of Matty's sexuality during a family dinner is a crucial plot point that needed more careful handling. The book addresses the aftermath of this revelation, but it misses an important opportunity to explore the specific dangers and ethical considerations of outing someone's sexual orientation without their consent.

Overall, "The Puttermans Are in the House" earns a rating of 3 out of 5. It successfully depicts a family's struggle to maintain unity and understand each other under trying circumstances, and it tackles themes like acceptance and the importance of support. However, the execution is hampered by its length and the overshadowing emphasis on baseball, which may not resonate with all readers. Additionally, while it attempts to handle sensitive topics with care, the treatment of Becky's revelation about Matty's sexuality could have been more nuanced, emphasizing the broader implications and potential harms of such disclosures in a more educational and impactful manner.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this middle grade read by Jacquetta Nammar Feldman. Set against the backdrop of Hurricane Harvey, twins Sammy and Matty Putterman are facing a lot of change. Not only are they dealing with the cataclysmic aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, but they are also dealing with changes in their own lives. For years they have been Sammy-Matty, a dynamic duo who lives and breathes baseball - along with the rest of the Putterman family (except for Cousin Becky - but more on her soon!). Matty up and quit baseball before the hurricane and no one knows why - he's withdrawn and worried about something. (That something turns out to be a kiss with his best friend, Ethan. He isn't sure he can like his best friend in that way AND be a professional baseball player - he's been looking but no one on the field seems to be out!) Sammy can't figure out why A) Matty quit the sport they both love or B) why their twin relationship, always so strong, is falling apart.

Matty and Sammy's stories intertwine with their cousin Becky's story. Becky has felt overshadowed by the twins from the moment they were born - only a few months after her. She has absolutely no interest in the baseball fever that consumes the rest of her family and delights in creating costumes to dress up her cat, Jess. Becky's bat mitzvah is coming and she's eager to be the first in the family to celebrate this important event. After the hurricane though, everything is turned upside down when the rest of the Putterman family (plus an elderly neighbor, a cat and a dog) invade her home.

The three cousins struggle through all the upheaval and changes in their lives - it isn't always easy, but they find their way, both individually and together as a family team. Along the way Becky celebrates her passions and becoming an adult in the Jewish faith, Sammy regains her confidence at bat and reconnects with Matty, and Matty learns that his family always has his back, no matter what.

This read was heartwarming and the three stories were beautifully interwoven.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Putterman’s are in the House by Jacquettta Nammar Feldman tells the tale of how a Jewish Houston family supports each other following the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. The story focuses on the relationships of a brother-sister pair of twins, Sammy and Matty, and their cousin, Becky. Matty is facing the realization that he may be gay, Sammy is losing her ability to dominate on the baseball field, and Becky wants an amazing Bat-Mitzvah, even if there has been a hurricane. Meanwhile the whole family is learning to get along in one house. Follow this family to see if they come out of this time of turmoil stronger, or will they happily separate once things go back to “normal”.

This book explored many kinds of relationships, twins and how hard it can be for them to understand being an individual when they have been “us” their whole lives. It looked at being a cousin to twins and how it can feel to be left out. A large theme present was the trauma children can experience when they have gone through an environmental disaster, and positive ways to handle the anger, frustration and sadness. Coming out as a young person, and the feelings one experiences throughout the process was also very present in the text. Also, if you love baseball, there was a lot of action with the baseball games for the twins and the Astros! This book is set for middle school students, and I agree with that rating. There was a lot of talk of feelings in the book, which may not suit some readers of this age, but the story is great, the themes are relevant and the characters are believable and varied. I am grateful for the opportunity to read diverse literature! Our children need to see themselves in the books they read.

Jacquettta Nammar Feldman lives in Austin, Texas with her husband and three dogs. She enjoys reading, writing and hiking. You can visit her online at jacquettanammarfeldman.com.

#ReadYourWorld This book was #gifted.

[Jamie Henry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sammy and her twin brother, Matty, are avid baseball fans and players. They were tight until Matty left during the middle of a game and refuses to come back to play. Then, Hurricane Harvey hits and destroys their and their grandparents home, forcing them to move in with their aunt, uncle, and cousin Becky who they used to have a strong bond with, but the years have worn it down to something prickly and disjointed. The story is told in Sammy, Matty., and Becky's voices, each struggling to deal with the hurricane, familial complications, and remembering who they are. Each of the tweens is unique - Sammy fighting to be a female baseball player and feeling abandoned by her twin, Matty struggling with learning a secret about himself he isn't ready to share, and Becky struggling with her bat mitzvah and the Houston Astros (their family's favorite baseball team) getting into the World Series to take the light of her big growing up celebration, and her family, away from her. The realities of what can happen and the decisions that need to be made after a natural disaster like a hurricane are well implemented with fear and grief, but laced with the undercurrents of hope and warmth. Watching the tweens finding themselves and each other is a light in the dark of devastation that builds strong bonds and dreams for the future. Baseball lingo and play-by-plays highlight the baseball drive and love for the family. Give to readers who love adventure, sports, and family dynamics.

[Hope Hunter · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Putterman twins, Matty and Sammy, and the perfect team and maintain a solid line of telepathic communication that often makes their close cousin, Becky, jealous. When the hurricane hits Houston and the twins' home is flooded, the family must indefinitely move into Becky's enormous house. As this upheaval is being dealt with, Matty suddenly quits baseball (the sport he loves) and refuses to talk to his twin. Sammy knows something is wrong but is devastated that their special twin telepathy is broken.

At first, I thought there was too much going on in this book: fighting cousins, fighting siblings, a hurricane severe enough to displace a portion of the community, and discovering and accepting sexual orientation, but by the conclusion of the story it was right. The hurricane forced this family to deal with their problems and relationships. Also, living in an area that does not have hurricanes, the descriptions were informative and will help students empathize with natural disasters and those who are affected by them. Solid upper elementary/middle school realistic fiction novel to add to a school library collection.

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this.

I may have mentioned in previous reviews that I grew up in Houston. To be able to know exactly what Sammy, Matty, and Becky are talking about when they describe Beltway 8 being submerged, and the neighborhoods around the city that were flooded with an unreal amount of water was really special.

I remember Hurricane Harvey. I had moved out of Houston by then, but that hurricane is the reason I no longer have many photos from my childhood. Most of them got damaged by the water. My parents lived very close to Lake Houston, and their house flooded. The only pictures I have left now are in three photo albums my parents gave me after I got married.

What I forgot was that while Houston was dealing with the fallout of a major hurricane, the Astros won the world series that year! The Puttermans are in the house feels so well researched, I don't doubt for a second that it could be considered quality historical fiction in a decade or two.

All in all, I loved it. It was so easy to get swept up in all the emotional turmoil and I have such a soft spot for Matty.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twins Sammy and Matty have always done everything together but when Matty walks away during their baseball game, Sammy realizes she no longer has the same telepathic link to her brother she has always had. After Hurricane Harvey floods their neighborhood and they are forced to kayak out with their dog and parents, they move in with their Aunt and Uncle – now the Puttermans total 9 (including Bubbe and Papa) plus their neighbor and her cat. Will all the Puttermans be able to live together and possibly reconnect under one roof? Will anyone pay attention to cousin Becky’s bat mitzvah when their hometown Houston Astros are on the verge of winning the World Series? This is a great coming-of-age story, complete with the big feeling of adolescence and a feline social media star. This book touches on many topics – climate change, the lack of out gay baseball players, the importance of staying connected to family, contemporary Jewish life, and one character even mentions wanting to vacation in Maine. A book perfect for middle grade readers.

[Yapha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sammy and Matty Putterman are twins in a family full of baseball players and baseball fans. They even play on the same U12 team, until the day Matty walks off the field for reasons he won't share. It is at that point that their "twin telepathy" is broken and Sammy has no idea what is going on with her brother. A few months later, their Houston home is flooded during Hurricane Harvey. They move in with their aunt, uncle, and cousin Becky whose house was on higher ground and not effected. Becky is just 6 months older and they all used to be super close friends, until they weren't. With Becky's Bat Mitzvah coming up, the Houston Astros making a run for the World Series, and the aftermath of te hurricane there is a lot for the three to process and work through. Along the way they find that they are not only Houston Strong, but Putterman strong. Highly recommended for grades 5 & up.

eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twin 13-year old siblings, Sammy and Matty Putterman, find themselves evacuating their home after Hurricane Harvey. Being displaced isn't the only thing that has changed for them, however. Both Puttermans have been avid baseball players and Houston Astros fans for their whole lives. Now things seem to be changing. Matty has withdrawn physically and mentally from the sport he loved, and Sammy finds that their twin bond feels different. After moving in with their aunt, uncle, and cousin, and joined by their similarly displaced grandparents and elderly neighbor, Sammy and Matty face the challenges of changing family dynamics and growing up. Told in the alternating voices of the youngest Puttermans, this is an uplifting story, recommended for upper middle grade readers!
Advanced reader copy-releases January 17, 2023

[Jacob Schmitt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sammy and Matty are twins who used to be perfectly in sync—almost telepathically connected. But everything changes when Matty suddenly elopes during a heated baseball game, without explanation. Since then, their once-close bond has gone cold. As if that weren't enough, Hurricane Harvey has left their town underwater, and returning home isn’t an option. Worst of all for Sammy? She’s stuck staying with her fashion-obsessed cousin, Becky.

This is a heartfelt coming-of-age story where each character is learning to navigate their own identity amidst shifting social dynamics. Matty, in particular, is wrestling with new feelings for another boy and searching for a way to share this part of himself with his family. The writing is artful, striking a beautiful balance as it explores fluidity in both masculinity and femininity.

[Shanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Just wow. I loved the story. Such a good book with a lot going on and Feldman handles it with ease. This could have ended up as one of those books where “too many tough topics are happening,” but in her hands, the story is tight and compelling, with enough laughs to keep us going.

I’m also a huge baseball fan, so I loved all the references, but I think this will appeal to non-baseball fans as well. The story’s emphasis on teamwork and cheering one another on in the face of big changes is relatable, for sure! Personally, my favorite character was Sammy, but I enjoyed them all. Thank you, thank you for this family and this story. “The Puttermans are in the HOUSE!” and I’m one of their biggest fans.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

While there is certainly an element of ticking all the boxes here, this is a really sweet book about baseball, natural disasters and family. The narrators are all just terrific. I kept thinking that Sammy's story was the heart of the book. Then we'd get Matty and I'd think, oh he's the heart of this book. And then finally, it seemed like it was really Becky. Sort of funny, in retrospect, that the story of the Astros winning the world series is such a huge part of the story. History doesn't treat them quite so well. But the idea of the sports team bringing a city together in the aftermath of a disaster makes a lot of sense.

[SaraKat · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this story, but I think the characters are the wrong age. The characters sometimes act their age and sometimes it feels like they should be a couple of years older. And the family is going through some stuff and it feels like the adults are just allowing their poor kids to flounder around suffer. They are educated, loving parents so that doesn't really track. The book seemed to come to an ending point and everything felt wrapped up, then the book kept going for another 70 pages. I loved how the family came together in the end, but maybe a tiny bit less about baseball would have been nice.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice story that takes place in Houston and revolves around baseball, hurricanes, and a family coming together. It would be ideal for a child that loves baseball. One of the many issues that comes up in the book is when one of the twin Puttermans kisses a friend of the same sex. So, although this would be a great addition to a school library in Texas, I wonder if it will pass their recent censorship of reading material.
As an adult, I felt that there was too much baseball in this book, but for a child who loves baseball or even any sport, I'm sure it would appeal.

[Erin Davis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Overall, I enjoyed this and loved all the Houston and Astros references. The novel rotates between three main tween characters thrown together in one house after Hurricane Harvey. Two things brought it down for me: the selfish, hands-off parenting, and that one child, 12 years old, is struggling about coming out to his family and having kissed his best friend. Overall, this would be fine for most middle-grades readers, but the coming-out situation might make it inappropriate for some.

[Jgramley · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars. As a triplet myself, I am always drawn to books about multiples and their journeys as individuals and as a set. It isn’t an easy road to walk. I simply can’t imagine all that Houston, New Orleans and so many other places have been through when hurricanes hit. Thank you for creating a window into seeing this and the power of being a Putterman!

[Kerri · Rating 2 out of 5]

My kids aged ten and fourteen didn’t like the characters. The constant baseball was annoying and my teen didn’t think it realistic for that age group. And I don’t care what the circumstances. twelve year olds should not be kissing anyone. The whole family needed psychiatric help. We didn’t finish, it was too depressing

[Stephanie Reese · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jacquetta’s words will pull at your heart strings and make you root for Sammy, Matty, and Becky right away. I really enjoyed the 3 narrators in the audiobook and would definitely recommend listening. It does feel more of an upper middle grade audience.

[Hoover Public Library Kids and Teens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Via three tweens’ earnest alternating perspectives, which are studded with baseball jargon, Feldman discerningly highlights one family’s struggles navigating loss and learning to accept one another.

[Elley Shin · Rating 3 out of 5]

one of the better baseball books i've read. i loved the inclusion of Jewish culture; i just think it lagged in the middle a bit

[Emma Ghiz]

I will protect Matty at all costs