Book Review: The House of Tomorrow by Peter Bognanni
The House of Tomorrow by Peter Bognanni. © 2011 Berkley Books (originally published in 2010). ISBN 9780425238882. Trade Paperback. Young Adult. 368 pages. Source: finished copy furnished by the publishers.
Synopsis: Sebastian Prendergast lives with his eccentric grandmother in a geodesic dome. His homeschooling has taught him much-but he’s learned little about girls, junk food, or loud, angry music. Then fate casts Sebastian out of the dome, and he finds a different kind of tutor in Jared Whitcomb: a chain-smoking sixteen-year-old heart transplant recipient who teaches him the ways of rebellion. Together they form a punk band and plan to take the local church talent show by storm. But when his grandmother calls him back to the futurist life she has planned for him, he must decide whether to answer the call-or start a future of his own.
Review: The geodesical is all that Sebastian has ever known, but one day when the Whitcomb family comes by for a tour things change. Sebastian’s grandmother has a stroke and is rushed off to the hospital. Jared Whitcomb finds Sebastian’s upbringing to be cruel and thus takes it upon himself to introduce him to a new world–the world of punk rock. Soon the two are friends and together form a punk band: The Rash.
This was an incredibly interesting novel and I’m shocked that I didn’t hear anything about it until now. Sebastian is such a fascinating and sad character. Fascinating in the way he views the world and speaks much like a scientist. Sad in his forbidding and unusual upbringing. And then there’s Jared, who due to his weakness and sickness–and his parent’s divorce–is a very angry, hurt and lonely boy. The emotions expressed throughout this book are so real, you cannot help but feel them. It’s relatable even if you have never experienced their particular situations.
Definitely passing this along to my younger brother as I think he’d love it. Marvelously done, Mr. Bognanni, looking forward to more from you, sir. Recommended to fans of Nick Hornby. 5/5.
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