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The House of Tomorrow

2 Ratings: 4.5

A book by Peter Bognanni

Starred Review. Sebastian Prendergast, the teenage narrator of Bognanni's funny and unique debut, lives in Iowa's first geodesic dome with his grandmother, a devout follower of futurist philosopher Buckminster R. Fuller. But when Nana has a stroke, Sebastian … see full wiki

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Author: Peter Bognanni

Publisher: Amy Einhorn Books/Putnam

1 review about The House of Tomorrow

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Quirky and Heartwarming

Mar 23, 2010

by Jenndon
posted in Cafe Libri: Reviewing Books & More

Rating:

A story about punk rock and heartwarming don't usually go in the same description, but quirky and heartwarming come through on every page in this delightful debut novel.

Fifteen-year-old Sebastian is such a misfit that he doesn't even know it. He's spent practically all of his life living with his grandmother in seclusion in a futuristic geodesic dome. She has a stroke while church youth group leader Janice Whitcomb is on a tour. Her punk-rock son Jared, waiting in the car, is curious about Sebastian, and Sebastian who has barely ever seen another teenager, is curious about Jared.

Jared has that Holden Caulfield mix of know-it-all and the insecurity of a misfit (a misfit who is recovering from a heart transplant no less).

He and Sebastian make friends, and Janice wants to encourage the friendship and wants to reach out to Sebastian in his time of need.

I wasn't sure about this novel. Coming of age-ish novels can either be delightful, or a bit trite. Characters who are religious are often painted as simple and/or fanatical. Homeschooled parentless teen characters can easily revert to stereotype.

But Peter Bognanni does none of this. It's quirky, it's fun, and yes -- heartwarming -- as these young people come together and end up saving each other.

This is published as an adult novel, but I think it would definitely appeal to older teens. There is language and the sorts of topics that one would expect adolescent boys to think and talk about (One of the punk rock songs that they write is about zapping off women's clothes).

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