Silas House

I really loved that this audiobook was performed with accents that I imagine the characters would really have.
For a school pen pal project, Meena and River selected each other based on being able to connect by writing letters rather than email. They were both open to learning about the other's cultures, and being their true selves. River shares his concerns about mountaintop removal mining happening very near his town. Meena shares her sadness at leaving her grandma behind, and concerns about her family not being able to afford an apartment & the woman they stay with being harassed by the landlord. They both have fathers who are rarely home due to out-of-state job sites.
I think this story would be good for middle schoolers to learn about being open to other cultures. There were a few instances where I, as an adult, felt there was more explanations than would be normal, and I often felt that both young people were writing much lengthier letters than anyone would. But perhaps a younger reader would just accept that and go with the flow of the tale.
I'm thinking of saving this audiobook a couple more years until my grandkids will be closer to middle school age for listening to it.… (more)

The grief and the resilience of Silas House's latest provides for a roller coaster of emotion. House depicts the trajectory of climate change in a way that is as believable as it is horrifying. In this novel, the story takes place after society has passed the point of no return.

The speaker, Lark, reflects that "some say 'We destroyed our world," but I don't agree with that. Some of us did. The rest of us were powerless. The rest of us are the ones who had to pay the biggest price. " The life that results is that of evading the religious fanatics, the extremists, and people driven by fear while trying to maintain one's humanity in the process. Powerful emotional journey.… (more)