Language: R (36 swears 21 'f'); Mature Content: PG13 (adult substance abuse, opioid addiction, child endangerment and neglect) Violence: PG13 (verbal abuse, disturbing images described)
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL
APPEALS TO: SOME
16yo Penny has lived in her mother's fairy tale her whole life. The house she lives in seems to talk to her, and her mother is more often "asleep" than parenting. Her mother has an opioid addiction, so Penny takes care of herself, avoids the boyfriends and checks on her mom. She dreams about calling 911 but doesn't know what to say. Her teachers, DCFS, and even her grandparents try to help, but somehow she keeps ending up back with her mother. On the night of her 17th birthday, as she waits for a call or a text from her, she remembers being in the house that is hiding and all the terrible things associated with her troubled life.
A novel in verse, The House No One Sees was a hard read - full of emotional content - I felt so bad for Penny and wished for better outcomes for her all along the way. While I don't think it would be good to teach, this would certainly be a book to talk about in a book club or among friends reading it together. Neither Penny's race nor culture is described, but she doesn't default white, either. Penny is a mirror of the young adult reading the book.
Lisa Librarian
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