House Arrest ~ K.A. Holt

✨ ✨Had to get a little creative over here today because I am so sick and definitely not photoshoot ready! Luckily, Riley always looks amazing, so she went solo today! Our weekend read, House Arrest, by K.A. Holt, was incredibly moving and suspenseful. I could not put it down, despite having a fever and faucet for a nose! The entire novel is written as protagonist, Timothy’s, court-ordered journal. After stealing a wallet to pay for his baby brother’s incredibly expensive medicine that his single mom could not afford, Timothy is put on strict house arrest, begins seeing a counselor, and has weekly visits with his probation officer, James.

Despite Timothy’s crime and boiling frustration, readers get to know him as the most loving and conscientious brother imaginable. His family’s circumstances, however, often land Timothy in impossible situations where he is forced, at too young an age, to choose between what is right for his family and what is right according to the law. Students will not be able to put this book down, and Timothy’s story will provoke endless conversations about courage, strength, morals, and the undeniable power of love. Written in verse, this book is a quick but rich read, and it is accessible to a wide range of readers. 

Maturity: 1/4

I would recommend this novel to students age 11+. Though the story doesn’t contain mature material, the protagonist’s little brother, Levi, is often very sick and some descriptions of his medical condition could be upsetting to readers who may cope with family illness themselves.

Pages: 296

Lexile: 610L

Lexile is a score that helps educators and parents match students with an appropriate text. A Lexile score is a measure of both a child’s reading ability and a text difficulty. However, Lexile does not take into account the content of a novel. So, pairing readers with a text is a complex process, and knowledge of a novel’s themes and plot is necessary to make a high-quality recommendation.If you are curious about the grade-level equivalent to Lexile scores, check out the conversion chart here!