House Arrest

K.A. Holt's 'House Arrest' is a poignant and often humorous novel in verse that follows Timothy, a middle schooler placed under house arrest for a year. Through his mandatory journal entries, readers witness his struggles to stay out of trouble, cope with his younger brother's chronic illness, and support his grieving mother, all while reporting to a probation officer and therapist. This book offers a sensitive exploration of family love, responsibility, and the complex path to redemption, making it ideal for readers aged 9-13 who appreciate emotional depth and a unique narrative style.

Timothy is on probation. It's a strange word—something that happens to other kids, to delinquents, not to kids like him. And yet, he is under house arrest for the next year. He must check in weekly with a probation officer and a therapist, and keep a journal for an entire year. And mostly, he has to stay out of trouble. But when he must take drastic measures to help his struggling family, staying out of trouble proves more difficult than Timothy ever thought it would be. By turns touching and funny, and always original, House Arrest is a middlegrade novel in verse about one boy's path to redemption as he navigates life with a sick brother, a grieving mother, and one tough probation officer.