by Lois Lenski
First published 2000
The family gathers around their kitchen table as morning light streams through familiar windows. Mother prepares breakfast while Father reads the newspaper and the children chatter about their plans for the day. Each family member has their own routines and responsibilities within the walls of their comfortable house. The children help with chores, play in their yard, and explore the rooms that hold their memories and belongings. Neighbors stop by to visit and share news from the street. Small conflicts arise between siblings over toys and territory, but affection and understanding always return. The house becomes a character itself, sheltering dreams and disappointments, celebrations and quiet moments. Through seasons of change, the family discovers that home means more than the building that contains them. Love creates the true foundation of their shared space.
Genres: family, family-life, american-fiction, 20th-century
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family
Setting: United States
Period: 20th Century
Hill & Wang Pub