House Arrest

Gr 6–10—Timothy stole a wallet, and now he's an adjudicated delinquent. The only places he's allowed to go are to school and to appointments with his therapist and probation officer. Also, the judge gave him a journal-writing assignment. If Timothy shows signs of remorse and doesn't get into more trouble over the course of the next year, he may be able to avoid being sent to juvie. But Timothy didn't take the wallet for himself. His family is in dire financial straits ever since his father left and his younger brother was born with serious health issues. Now, with plenty of spare time on his hands, Timothy can fully explore his complicated feelings about his current family situation. He knows one thing, though: stealing the wallet may have been wrong, and he knows it didn't help, but if there's a way he can truly help his struggling family, he won't hesitate to act. This gripping novel in verse evokes a wide variety of emotional responses, as it is serious and funny, thrilling and touching, sweet and snarky. Timothy is an entirely believable kid, and his brother's health issues, as well as Timothy's reactions to them, are skillfully described.