House Arrest by K. A. Holt

This story is written in free verse written by the protagonist instead of standard prose. I thought the poetry style did a good job of giving it a rhythm, adding to the character development and it wasn't distracting, as sometimes free verse can be. It's basically the story of a boy who gets caught stealing and is sentenced to remain at home (hence House Arrest) when he isn't in school. What we come to learn is that he's basically a good kid in a bad situation, which is no one person's fault. What I liked about this story is the authenticity of the voice-he genuinely struggles with what is right and wrong and what all the grey in life is all about. There are times the actions and words ring a bit hollow but that's part of the charm as well. It's an interesting story and could help people realize that crimes are always more complicated than wrong and right. Grades 5-8