The smell of other people's houses (Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock)

The smell of other people's houses

Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock

This novel  narrates the story of four 16-year-old characters in the 60s in Alaska. The historical setting is the moment when the fact of statehood was discussed and Alaska stopped being  a territory and becomes state 49th.

One of the characters is Ruth. She lives with her mum and dad happily until tragic engulfs them and her life changes forever. She goes to live with her grandma together with her sister Lily. Grandma is stern and at times cruel, making Ruth look for love in the arms of a boy called Ray. When she gets pregnant, the fragility of her future reveals itself in front of her.

Dora suffers her alcoholic mother and father, who even threatens to attact her. She becomes a member of the family of her friend Dumpling, who sincerely accepts her and protects her when fortune knocks at her door.

Alyce desires to dance ballet more than anything in the world. However, the auditions to enter a dancing school collides with her working in her father's boat during fishing time. As she is in the boat, she sees a boy falling from the ferry that passes by and, as he recues him, she finds the courage to take her life in her handds.

Hanks is only 16 but he feels as old as time. His father died in a storm in the sea and his new stepfather is abusive towards his mother and his two younger brothers. He decides to escape taking the ferry but soon problems arrive and he realises that things are not going to be as easier as he thinks.

This novel deals with strong themes such as teenaged pregnancy, alcoholism, violence and abandonment. It is cyclical and the stories of the characters are interwined. However, the story is so well-constructed that the connections are not forced, they fluid naturally, leading the readers to a world of truth and discovery.

mail:ana.ovejero@gmail.com
instagram: @ananbooks